AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Habitat for Humanity is finding ways to market to people who used to be considered middle class but are now considered low-income due to increased home prices.
Data from a recent Zillow report showed that to live comfortably with a mortgage in Austin, you need about $65,000 more than in 2020.
The odds are that you or someone you know qualifies for low-income housing but doesn't know it. For instance, a person living alone, making $65,450 a year, can apply for a low-income Austin Habitat for Humanity home. A family of four with a yearly income of $93,450 also qualifies.
"You're still well below what would be needed to afford even an average home in Austin," Wayne Gerami, the chief officer at Austin Habitat for Humanity, said. "You're really well below what would be needed to afford a home that is move-in ready."
Gerami has been with Austin Habitat for Humanity for nearly two decades. He's seen clients change from blue-collar jobs like cab drivers to professional-class careers like first responders.
It's not surprising. The Zillow report shows homebuyers need to earn an income of $149,267 to comfortably afford a mortgage in Austin. That's more than any other metro in Texas.
"That's insane because it seems not too long ago that $65,000 was the median income itself," Gerami said. "Now that's just the increase to afford an average home. So it's a pretty startling analysis, but it holds true in my experience."
Gerami said to get the word out about their services, Austin Habitat for Humanity had to do something it has never done: marketing. He said the nonprofit had to increase its marketing budget to target people who used to be middle class but are now considered low-income and don't know about the service.
Gerami said just a month ago, the nonprofit started posting its affordable homes on MLS so more people can know about them.
"We have more coming online, day by day," Gerami said.
Gerami hopes to empower more prospective homebuyers who just want to live the American dream.