A home and an opportunity.
Jon and Kelly Kehl became new homeowners in Northport through Peninsula Housing, marking a first for the program on Jan. 18.
The Leelanau natives are grateful for the community support that made this possible.
“It’s a dream come true for us,” Kelly said.
Thanks to the generosity of Peninsula Housing donors, bridge lenders, and the Leelanau Township Community Foundation, the non-profit organization was able to move quickly to purchase the home in Northport at the end of 2023.
Jon, 38, and Kelly, 37, have known each other for over 30 years and grew up in Northport. Kelly is fifth-generation from Traverse City, and Jon’s family were some of the first settlers in Northport.
After being displaced during the pandemic, Jon and Kelly moved to Traverse City for housing.
“This is just really lovely being able to go back there with an actual place to live that’s ours,” Kelly said.
Kelly owns a local business, and Jon works in the restaurant industry on the peninsula, and have worked in the area their whole lives.
“We had lost all hope on homeownership in northern Michigan. We kind of got to the point where we accepted that and we were either going to have to change careers or move away if we want to own a home,” Jon said. “When our friend and realtor, Hillary Voight, reached out and told us about this we were wondering what this is about and then it actually turned into something. It’s just unreal.”
This investment from Peninsula Housing in affordable housing means this home will remain affordable in perpetuity, according to a press release.
“We’ve lived in this area our whole lives and so watching it shift and change to where we were afraid that we would never be able to live and grow old here was very nerve wracking,” Kelly said. “When this program popped up for us, we saw a light ... Maybe this can be a reality.”
It wasn’t easy as the program requires a lengthy and taxing process.
They will be moving into the home over the next couple of weeks.
Jon and Kelly’s dog, Ranger, will have a little more space to be a dog in the fenced in yard of their modest Northport home.
“This is really important to us, affordable housing, and this program that (Larry Mawby) created is super important to us,” Kelly said. “I think it has the potential of helping so many people ... We couldn’t have done it without the program, and the other people that were committed to helping us get this house.”
As a community land trust, Peninsula Housing uses a ground-lease model to keep homes affordable for generations. With this model, the ownership of the land and the home are separated, making purchasing the home more achievable for people making the area median income or lower, according to a press release.
Peninsula Housing, founded in 2021, owns the land in perpetuity and sells the home at a reduced cost to qualified buyers with a ground lease. The ground lease limits the amount the home can be resold for, keeping it affordable for future homeowners, forever.
Peninsula Housing bought the home for $375,000 and sold it to Jon and Kelly for $220,000.
“There is a gap of (at least) $150,0000. That gap was funded by funds from the Leelanau Township Community Foundation, and many other businesses and contributions,” Mawby said.
The price of the house is based on the median income for families, meaning that families should not be spending more than $260,000 on a home. Peninsula housing refers to 80% of the median income as a target.
“This is indicative of the challenge for people working and living in Leelanau County,” Mawby said.
The Kehl’s qualified to purchase the home through a partnership with the Northern Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA).
“Peninsula Housing shares our gratitude to NMCAA for their expertise in helping people achieve their homeownership goals. Anyone interested in purchasing future affordable homes is encouraged to reach out to NMCAA (nmcaa.net) to learn more about qualifications,” Mawby said in a press release. “Peninsula Housing is working to purchase and build more homes and needs the support of generous donors to increase the number of affordable housing options. You can help create more affordable housing in Leelanau and northern Michigan by clicking the donate button at Peninsula-Housing.org.”
Housing North, in a study released last year, said Leelanau County needs roughly 1,600 units to fulfill its housing needs for locals and seasonal workers.
Peninsula housing has its eyes set on another home in Suttons Bay.
Last year, Peninsula Housing bought a 10-acre parcel in Suttons Bay Township that is in the early planning stages for affordable housing options.
Mawby says they are working with a planning firm and are engaged in Suttons Bay community discussions for input on an affordable housing project that is years out from being a reality.
“All the options are on the table and I hope that the project is defined a little bit better by the end of the summer (2024),” Mawby said.
