‘Are we allowing tiny homes to be built?’ asks realty CEO raising a significant issue facing affordable community plans

A CEO has confronted major housing concerns preventing more tiny homes from being built.

David Belew, CEO of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley in Greenfield, Massachusetts believes state officials are not doing enough to solve growing housing issues, including implementing more tiny homes.

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“We need to work with our elected officials in all of our cities and counties here in our area making sure that we have proper zoning,” Belew explained to Greenfield Recorder.

“Are we allowing tiny homes to be built? Are we looking at multi-purpose facilities where you have a storefront on the ground floor and housing, apartments, or condos above?

“Just really making sure that we are exploring all of the housing options.”

Belew has years of real estate experience, working in markets in Chicago and Indiana before moving to Massachusetts.

When arriving in the Bay State he immediately noticed housing inventory was low, causing major issues for people in the area.

“In February of 2020 there were almost 1,400 homes for sale in our three-county area,” Belew said.

“Today there are 600.”

Belew told the publication that the effects of the pandemic and high interest rates have stopped people from looking for new homes.

He also claimed that homeowners are settling where they are because it’s not financially possible for them to buy a new home.

“Right now, people are looking around at the interest rates and the inventory and thinking, ‘You know what? I’m just going to stay around for a while longer,’” Belew said.

“And that just exacerbates the inventory problem.”

TINY SOLUTION

Tiny homes have become an affordable option for many Americans.

Barb Diaz manages and lives at Gracious Tiny House Park, a tiny home village in Okeechobee, Florida.

Members of the community can enjoy the scenic view of Lake Okeechobee for a reasonable price.

Residents rent the land their home sits on for $375 a month.

The fees include utility hookups, however, members must pay their own electric bills.

Members can enjoy all of the amenities of the tiny home village as long as they follow the rules.

“We are owned and operated by family values and promote moral and ethical accountability,” read the community’s website.

“We are mindful that we live in a community, with a caring eye on each other, while acknowledging that as individuals, we just want to live in peace and quiet in an economical manner.”