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Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Renters move in to vacant properties through ‘Rent to Own Homes’ project

Renters move in to vacant properties through ‘Rent to Own Homes’ project

March 14, 2014 by Karen Slattery 25 Comments

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The Marcheses are among the first families to move into the Layton Boulevard West neighborhood’s affordable Rent to Own Homes. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

The Marcheses are among the first families to move into the Layton Boulevard West neighborhood’s affordable Rent to Own Homes. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

Most tenants would rather not hear from their landlords. But Kelly Marchese is not one of those renters. She says she emails or is on the phone with her landlord regularly, to talk about things such as the chain-link fence that will be installed in her backyard this summer.

Marchese rents a house on the city’s South Side that was formerly in foreclosure and vacant, through the Rent to Own Homes program. The program was made possible by a partnership between Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, Inc. (LBWN) and Impact Seven, Inc., a private, nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves as Marchese’s landlord.

The home is one of 24 foreclosed properties that these co-developers have purchased and are rehabbing to give people such as Marchese access to affordable housing in the city.

Applicants interested in renting the homes, with the idea of eventually owning them, are screened. The monthly rent is based on income.

Tenants who live in the homes for 15 years will be given about $37,000 in credit toward the purchase price, according to LBWN Executive Director Charlotte John-Gomez.

Marchese said that once she was approved to move into the home at 2030 S. 37th St. last summer, she had a hand in making decisions about the renovations. She said she chose the yellow color of the siding, for instance. “They want you to be happy with the house,” she said.

Kelly Marchese is settled in at one of the Rent to Own Homes made available through a partnership between Layton Boulevard West Neighbors and Impact Seven, Inc. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

Kelly Marchese is settled in at one of the Rent to Own Homes made available through a partnership between Layton Boulevard West Neighbors and Impact Seven, Inc. (Photo by Karen Slattery)

The Rent to Own Homes development helps bring stability to the Layton Boulevard West area, according to John-Gomez, and helps stave off some of the havoc wreaked by the foreclosure crisis.

LBWN, a nonprofit organization created two decades ago by the School Sisters of St. Francis, is charged with stabilizing and revitalizing the Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Boulevard neighborhoods.

The agency has operated the Turnkey Renovation Program for several years, in which it buys, renovates and sells foreclosed homes in the neighborhood at affordable prices, one at a time. John-Gomez said the Rent to Own Homes program resulted from taking the Turnkey project “to scale a little bit more.”

She said that LBWN receives a list of foreclosures twice a year, adding that she “doesn’t see the trend waning at any point.”

LBWN’s co-developer, Impact Seven, Inc., was founded in northwestern Wisconsin in 1970 to aid development in low- and middle-income communities.

Todd Hutchison, who oversees the real estate development branch of Impact Seven, Inc., said that his organization and LBWN pored over lists of foreclosed homes in the area that were owned by the city of Milwaukee or by banks to find places to buy. Not all of the properties they looked at were salvageable, according to Hutchison.

Those they purchased got new roofs, windows, furnaces and wiring. New plumbing was included where needed. “We are breathing another 100 years of life into these homes,” said John-Gomez.

Foreclosures occur because people are no longer able to pay their mortgages, the upkeep or the property taxes. Abandoned buildings create problems for the neighborhoods because they fall into disrepair over time, attract vandals and drug dealers, and become a danger to children, according to Hutchison.

As the foreclosed building loses its value, so do the buildings around it, he said.

Vacant houses are not the only problem for neighborhoods such as Layton Boulevard West. So are vacant storefronts. For that reason, two foreclosed commercial buildings, located at 3513 and 3519 W. National Ave. were included in the project, in an effort “reactivate those storefronts,” according to John-Gomez.

John-Gomez said that tenants have leased 11 of the homes to date. Negotiations are in progress with others, including tenants that will move into the storefront buildings.

The nearly $6 million project was made possible with loans and tax credits from organizations including the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), Town Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, the National Equity Fund, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the city of Milwaukee.

The project is one of the finalists for this year’s Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Initiatives (MANDI), in the State Farm Building Blocks Award category, which recognizes a real estate project that improves the community.

John-Gomez described the news as “great.” Hutchinson added that he is pleased to “celebrate that we have had a little bit of an impact, even though there is a long way to go.”

According to John-Gomez, the tenants seem to like the idea of being part of a program nominated for an award.

Marchese said she is very happy in her new home and will begin painting her inside walls this spring. She said that she plans to choose earth tones and is anxious to get started.

The landlord will send a representative to her home for an inspection once a year.

Said Marchese, “I want him to say ‘wow.’”

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Filed Under: Carousel, Economic Development, Home, Housing, Layton Boulevard West, Neighborhoods, News, South Tagged With: foreclosure, foreclosures, home ownership, housing, Layton Boulevard West, mandi, rent to own

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About Karen Slattery

Comments

  1. AvatarDelirien McClure says

    September 11, 2014 at 8:07 am

    I would like to know do you have vacancy on the northwest Milwaukee, WI and I’m looking for a 4 bedrooms 2 bath single family homes and I you can call me at 414-865-0730. Thank You

    Reply
  2. AvatarJeri Stillman says

    October 10, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    I am so excited to have to have found a program that just might be able to give me the tools I need to get me into a home. I ran I to hard to.especially in 2006 and am desperately trying to regain homeownership. Please contact me with any information as to what I need to do to do to make this a reality. Respectfully, Jeri. 414-737-3691

    Reply
  3. AvatarCynthia says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    I’m interested in a vacancy on the north side Milwaukee wi 4 bedrooms 2bath single family home if you have any please reach me at (414)544-4243 thank you…

    Reply
  4. AvatarTerry Cormican says

    December 28, 2014 at 10:47 am

    Hi,
    I am interested in applying for one of your rent to own homes.
    Please call me at 414-213-3698
    Thank you,
    Terry

    Reply
  5. AvatarTerri says

    January 26, 2015 at 10:32 am

    I’m looking for a four or five bedroom two bath home took in four orphans and need a larger home

    Reply
  6. Avatarvickie sims says

    March 13, 2015 at 3:57 am

    i am looking for a 3 bedroom, 2bath single family home.please if you can help me , you can reach me @414 265-4775 thank you.

    Reply
  7. AvatarChiquita says

    March 24, 2015 at 10:03 pm

    I am interested in vacant Homes

    Reply
  8. Avataryolanda taylor says

    April 1, 2015 at 7:24 am

    Looking for a single family house 414 704 0668

    Reply
  9. AvatarSamantha says

    May 25, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    I just moved in Milwaukee and I have been trying to find a nice home he for me and my kids and grandkids so if you can take the time out to read this and if you can help the children and me to have they’re own back yard thank God for your help . .. Samantha G Woodley

    Reply
  10. AvatarWillie E Steele says

    May 29, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    I am living in a low – imcome housing, I started working on a job, so I need to move. I am looking for a dulex or town house. My sisters husband and my self, are willing to go into this project. We don’t want single family but a townhouse. We are olders retiree looking for something we can afford.

    Thank You
    Willie Steele

    Reply
  11. Avatarmaria sada says

    July 11, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    I am looking for rent to own single home 4 bed rooms 2 batjrooms if possible. Thanks

    Reply
  12. AvatarCheri morgan says

    July 14, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    I am looking for a 3 bedroom single family ranch style home. I am low income and disabled and looking info about rent to own homes.please get in touch with me at 414-535-9447. Thank you.

    Reply
  13. AvatarRobert and Luis says

    July 25, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Hi this is Luis & robert we are looking for a 3 bedroom 2 bathrooms on the south side Milwaukee you can call us at this number 4143884941 hope to here from u soon thank you & we are both on disability & a budget to

    Reply
  14. Avatarsherry says

    August 6, 2015 at 8:37 am

    I have always wanted my own home i would like a 4 bedroom if possable in milwaukee i would like a yard my grandkids could play in and we could enjoy barbeques in. Please if u have anything contact me ok i would like to stay in milwaukee or west milwaukee southside please my number is 414-861-9526 thank you so much hope to hear from u soon also 2 bathrooms if available thanks sherry

    Reply
  15. Avatarsheree sanders says

    October 26, 2015 at 10:32 am

    How do we get information that this is a program that works for everyone even if your a criminal and or single person looking for a start what if you have missing income does this program works let me know inquiring minds want to know

    Reply
  16. AvatarCheri morgan says

    November 2, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    I am looking for a 3 bedroom home I am disabled and I have a pcw that lives with me. I only receive SSI assistance and don’t have any savings. Please contact us at 4145359447. Thank yo

    Reply
  17. AvatarNick says

    April 29, 2016 at 11:47 pm

    I was curious how this exactly works?
    I would be very interested in something that could get my foot in the door , I had major fall back about 5 years ago but doing great know I have been paying 1,200 for rent past 5 years and want to buy house just credit not the greatest

    Reply
  18. AvatarLinda Riley says

    May 14, 2016 at 5:36 pm

    Hello I am interested in a 3 bedroom home. I can be reached at 414 207 2555.

    Reply
  19. Avatarshecori Winters says

    May 20, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Hi im interested in a 3or4 bed house you can reach me at 414380-3616

    Reply
  20. AvatarBrad Chaloupka says

    June 15, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    We r looking for houses on the northwest side of milwaukee

    Reply
  21. AvatarAnn M Whitson says

    February 1, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    MS.ANN is looking for a rent to own home or house 3 bedrooms 1/2 bath nice basement upstairs nice yard fence in back yard.small dog allowed quiet nice neighborhood far west or North.

    Reply
  22. AvatarTodd Fredenberg says

    February 22, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Looking for 3 bdrm 2 bath single family home on the outer NW edge of milwaukee on a rent to own basis !

    Reply
  23. AvatarKendra M Willis says

    April 13, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Im looking for a 2 bed 1 or 2 bath

    Reply
  24. AvatarDebra says

    June 7, 2017 at 11:48 am

    I would like to find out more information on this program and others like it

    Reply
  25. Avatargeorge franklin says

    July 8, 2018 at 9:35 am

    I just moving here and I would like a 2bedroom 1/2 bath if you have any homes please give me a call thanks or email me thanks

    Reply

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