The Kansas City Landbank plans to attract more homebuyers to the urban core by offering a deal homebuyers can't refuse; $999 houses.
The Kansas City Landbank is rolling out a new program to fight blight and revitalize urban neighborhoods.
Last year they offered the Dollar House program, now they're offering houses for just under a thousand dollars.
Jamaica Collins closed on her dollar house on July 29th of last year. Six months later, the family of 9 still has a lot of work to do on their five bedroom, two bathroom, debt-free home.
"We take one step forward, two steps back. We complete something and then we find a new problem. Our other biggest issue has been vandalism. It's been really tough. We come over, we work, we leave and come back and something's broken," said Collins.
Ted Anderson, the executive director of the Landbank, hopes to rectify those challenges through a new homeownership initiative.
The Heart of KC program will sell houses for $999 dollars.
"People wanted better houses and they're willing to pay a little more for them. So we picked out 50 houses, said Anderson. "We learned our lesson in some instances in the dollar house program," said Anderson.
The official "Heart of KC" house list will not be released until Valentine's Day. But Anderson says these houses are in "fair" condition as opposed to the "very bad" condition of the dollar houses, so they'll take less time and money to rehab.
"We want people paying taxes on these houses and we want people living in them. Because vacant houses deteriorate so quickly," said Anderson.
A goal shared by the Collins family. They're working multiple jobs to renovate their dream home.
"I grew up in this neighborhood. If we continue to build up the neighborhood, to build the housing structures and give families the opportunity to own their home, we give them opportunities for pathways out of poverty," said Collins.
The new program will include some of the guidelines of the dollar program. The applicants will need to prove they have $8,500 to put towards renovations. They have to be able to secure a proper title and be in good standings with any other properties they own in Jackson County.
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