Bend increases land for housing

Bend is located in the state of Oregon and despite being considered “the city that has it all,” it is no longer the case. According to recent official data, the city of Bend has run out of affordable housing for its growing population.

Currently, the city of Bend has 106,184 inhabitants, and due to its population growth and constant housing demands, local authorities are analyzing ways to expand their supply capacity by looking for land to build on and provide a solution to the housing crisis.

The city’s housing director has spoken on the matter and stated that despite the construction projects being carried out on the outskirts of the city, Bend still has a housing shortage, and the few properties it has are priced so high that they are unaffordable for its residents.

Thanks to a recently approved law, the city will attempt to expand to alleviate the affordable housing crisis and improve conditions for its large population. According to the regulation, the approved expansion will be about 100 urban acres where large housing projects can be developed at prices adjustable to the city’s average wages.

Although the city’s real estate market still has homes, the truth is that their costs are always a concern for residents with medium and low incomes and for local authorities who do not have enough territorial capacity to meet the high demand.

One of the aids available to Bend residents when looking for a property is through the Habitat for Humanity foundation, which offers homes at reduced prices, with mortgages that are more appropriately adjusted to the future owner’s monthly income. However, there are few properties left to offer due to the city’s high demand.

Although this new law provides a light for the city’s affordable housing issue, the truth is that land prices hinder the solution to the problem since it is difficult to determine where to direct the expansion due to high costs.

As a result of the new law allowing Bend’s urban expansion, several opponents of the project argue that they do not see the expansion as necessary since the city still has enough land available for new constructions. According to conservationists, it is too soon to resort to expansion, and they state that before exploiting new lands, it is important to first conduct a deeper analysis of housing needs and other studies.

On the other hand, investors and housing developers believe in the need for affordable housing for residents but disagree with the high prices of the land enabled by the regulation; therefore, they prefer to develop their housing projects on the outskirts of the city where prices are also more affordable for them.

Within the increase of land for affordable housing, the concern among officials is having the capacity to meet the transportation means that allow citizens adequate access to these new expansions, as well as having the ability to cover new education and food needs.

Available Foreclosures:

Bend: 12 homes available.

By Elías DaSilva | 21 de octubre de 2024.