HUD Secretary's Best in American Living Award Winners 1998

Sales Price of Unit Entered: $94,700

Median Home Price in the Metropolitan Statistical Area: $134,658

Description: Austurbruin is a 50-unit project consisting of 40 self-help homeownership units and 10 newly constructed public housing units. All homeownership units are stick-built, 3 and 4 bedroom units ranging in size from 1,000 square feet to 1,300 square feet.

All house plans are designed by a licensed architect and all home purchasers provide a minimum of 30 hours of "sweat equity" labor per week to the construction of all homes. Over the average eight-month construction period, each self-help homeowner will contribute almost 1,000 hours of labor.

The residents of Austurbruin’s public housing units will be encouraged to participate in pre-homebuyer counseling. Living closely with low-income homeowners will provide the residents of public housing with a positive homeownership model.