Housing is expensive on Cape Cod: Here's how six families found homes

WEST HARWICH — When she settles into her new two-bedroom ranch, Jennifer Lundell, 32, said, the first thing she'll unpack is a Christmas tree.

She, her boyfriend, Felix, 42, and their son, Jax, will start a new chapter in Harwich, after they partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, based in Yarmouthport, to build their own new affordable house.

"It will be his first Christmas in his first house," said Lundell, of her son. "It will look like a blessed Christmas because we're finally in our own home but a little chaotic, I'm sure."

Lundell and her family are among the six families — 11 adults and 11 kids — who will soon move into a cluster of new homes off Main Street in West Harwich. The cul-de-sac is located on Murray Lane, a nod to affordable housing advocate Bob Murray known for an annual walk from Provincetown to Falmouth to raise money for housing.

"It feels cliche to say, 'Oh, you know, Habitat changes lives,'" said Wendy Cullinan, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod president and CEO. "No, it's true, it's not just one of those great sayings, it absolutely changes lives."

Families moving into the neighborhood already live on the Cape. They include a landscaper, behavior therapist, and Provincetown sous chef and Eastham teacher who lost their home and belongings in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria.

Lundell is a kitchen manager at the Great Western Deli, while her boyfriend is the service manager at Town Fair Tire in Hyannis.

The single-family houses are either Cape-style or ranch and are a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes. Cost ranges between $138,000 and $168,000.

How do families buy a Habitat for Humanity house?

Through Habitat for Humanity, families apply for a chance to build their own house — alongside volunteers — and pay an affordable mortgage. As the region faces a persistent housing crisis, Cullinan said the affiliate sometimes , as in this case, receives 80 applications for six homes.

The pool of applicants is then whittled down based on qualifications, including need for adequate housing, having a total family income that is not higher than 65% of area median income by household size, and having a stable income.

The Murray Lane homes, the six families applied last fall and were selected after nearly 80 applicants were narrowed down to about 35 names, said Cullinan.

"Then, we literally pull names out of the buckets," said Cullinan.

Major support and money for the Harwich build came from the town's Community Preservation Act and Affordable Housing Trust funds, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, The Coop Foundation, Cape Cod 5 Foundation, and Bank of America Foundation.

Homes are deed-restricted to remain affordable in perpetuity.

One new homeowner's story

About four years ago, Lundell, who has lived on Cape Cod for 27 years and grew up in Harwich, said she was living in Dennisport. She called her housing situation then "awful," saying there were rats and mold. Then, she and her boyfriend learned she was pregnant.

They moved in with her parents before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and her sister and her family also moved in. Seven people were living under one roof along with three dogs and three cats.

Housing basics on Cape Cod: Confused about 'affordable' housing on Cape Cod? Here's a primer.

"Even though it was really nice to be with my parents, we've been wanting to buy our own house for a while but the market made it impossible," said Lundell.

Her massage therapist, who also owns a Habitat for Humanity house, told Lundell that the nonprofit planned to build houses in Harwich and urged her to apply. Lundell applied, skeptical she would win a spot.

"Well, turns out we were the first ones drawn," said Lundell.

'Blood, sweat, and tears'

Local families must be willing to complete at least 250 hours per adult of "sweat equity" working to build the Habitat houses.

Tara Cronin, volunteer services manager, said that process helps organically bond neighbors and form a community bond. Standing inside one of the houses, she said that inside the walls are notes family members wrote to each other.

"They wrote sweet things to each other...there's blood, sweat, and tears in the home that they built," said Cronin.

The homes on Murray Lane use solar power, energy efficiency

Embracing energy efficiency, each home is equipped with a Mitsubishi HVAC system and LG solar panels.

A framing technique called a California corner means the house's corners allow for more insulation in an area that traditionally loses the most heat. Flooring is sustainably harvested bamboo and all fixtures use LED lights. When possible, homes are oriented to the south, so solar panels capture the most hours of sunlight.

Heat pumps are also used which require no fossil fuels.

More:Community engagement is key, Cape affordable housing advocate says

Ginny Irving, the director of resource development, said the neighborhood shows affordable housing and protecting the environment do not have to be dueling causes.

"We're trying to show that both can exist. We can have beautiful homes on nice smaller lots, yet at the same time we're being mindful of our environment and installing solar," said Irving.

Habitat for Humanity's legacy on Cape Cod

Founded in 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has built over 150 affordable homes in all 15 towns on Cape Cod and homes are currently under construction in Falmouth, Chatham, and Sandwich.

In 2015, the affiliate celebrated building its 100th home, said Cullinan, and is now fast-approaching the milestone of its 200th home.

"We've really increased our capacity and we're really building at the fastest pace we can build," said Cullinan.

Cullinan said the affiliate supports all housing projects, whether it's apartments, condominiums, or accessory dwelling units.

"We're like, 'Build it, build it, build it,' because people need a place to live," said Cullinan. "We're not the only game in town, we're not the only housing organization in town. We're not the answer to the problem we're going through but I know that we are one of the answers."

Without Habitat for Humanity, Lundell said she and her family would likely have to move off-Cape due to the housing market. She said she's looking forward to her own parents, who live nearby, bonding with son Jax and forging a close relationship.

"It's incredible to stay here," said Lundell.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Six families choose sweat and luck to find homes in tight Cape market