Des Moines-based homebuilders, Origin Homes, is launching an initiative to provide affordable housing options in rural areas of Iowa, including in at least one community in Carroll County. By leveraging the USDA Rural Home Loan Program, Origin Homes encourages homebuyers in towns with 20,000 or fewer populations to apply for affordable home construction. Through this program, buyers can benefit from low closing costs, zero down payments, and lower interest rates, making homeownership more accessible in areas where rural homes are in high demand. Origin Homes staff has identified Manning as a prime example of a community that could benefit from such programs. The town of just under 1,500 residents has a 6.1 percent vacancy rate, compared to 9.1 percent countywide, and near zero homes on the market for sale or rent. According to City Administrator, Dawn Meyer, the demand for housing in Manning has reached critical levels. She says, “Our study indicated that we need a minimum of 17 homes per year to continue on a positive growth pattern. That’s not happening right now. We’ve had two new spec homes built in the last 20 years, which were only made possible by the Homes for Iowa program. We’ve been able to utilize the Empower Rural Iowa grant to best plan for neighborhoods and future divisions, but until Origin approached us with a potential partnership, we didn’t have any builders willing to travel this far from the Des Moines area.” The potential impact goes beyond housing alone. Manning has attracted interest from various companies in the agricultural and manufacturing industries, which could bring up to 200 new full-time jobs to the city. To accommodate this growth, the availability of workforce housing becomes even more critical. Origin Homes plans to construct five homes in Manning within the next year, supporting rural homebuyers in utilizing the USDA loan program to purchase these new construction homes. Interested homebuyers can learn more using the contact points included below.
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Dawn Meyer
Manning City Hall
712-655-2176
Origin Homes