BEND, OR -- Kor Community Land Trust has selected seven homeowners for its Poplar development, now under construction on Bend’s west side. Executive Director Jackie Keogh says four work for participating companies who agreed to cover $2,500 in closing costs for their employee. "One is a unit secretary of a St. Charles operating room, another is the general manager of Sage Window Cleaning. We love this selection because it shows that not just major employers were selected, but smaller businesses who are also struggling are able to support their employees." Keogh tells KBND News, "At Mt. Bachelor, we selected a ski and snowboard instructor. And then one household with two heads of household - so a husband and wife, for example - we had a 911 call taker from Deschutes County and someone who works at the front of house in the restaurant at Mt. Bachelor."

Housing Works clients were selected for the other three homes, which Keogh says will allow them to get off rental assistance and clear the way for someone else to access those services. 

Kor Community Land Trust received more than 65 applications for the three-bedroom, two-bath homes. Keogh says all had to be first-time homebuyers, "You also received preference if you’re a first generation homebuyer, which means neither your parents nor you had ever owned a home before. All seven were first generation homebuyers. You also had to be pre-qualified for the purchase price, which was $250,000. With down payment assistance for first generation home buyers, it went as low as $200,000." Homeowners were selected by lottery. 

The seven homes are located on Kor-owned land and are deed-restricted for life, which means they must be sold as affordable housing in the future, and the four employer-supported properties stay in that program. 

Construction of the Poplar Community began this spring and is expected to be complete by early 2024.