New Model for Affordable Housing Coming to Central Texas

LA GRANGE, TX — Nonprofit organization Texas Community Builders, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Business and Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas, is demonstrating the potential of delivering affordable, energy-efficient housing in Texas’ rural communities with factory built housing through a partnership with Next Step Homes, LLC and Clayton Homes.

A Clayton model home in La Grange, Texas, will serve as an example of what is possible for teachers, first responders, families and individuals of moderate income levels, and more searching for higher value, lower cost homeownership opportunities to promote asset building.

City officials, economic developers, and members of the public will be invited to an open house and tour of this model home to explore the future of sustainable housing. An open house for home buyers and the public will be held on Saturday, July 8, with a second event for developers, real estate professionals, and officials on Friday, July 21.

Pricing for 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes starts from $149,000, including the land. Homes are highly customizable with optional features and a choice of layouts, and are built on a permanent foundation to ENERGY STAR® standards. Homes will be available for purchase or order as early as August 2017.

Rosa Ríos Valdez, CEO of Texas Community Builders, said, “We are proud to work with our partners to offer a model for affordable, energy-efficient housing that will be replicable in communities across Texas.”

“This is a great opportunity to show the benefits of factory-built home,” said Stacey Epperson, president and founder of Next Step. “Working with Texas Community Builders, we hope to provide sustainable homeownership opportunities for more hard working Texas families.”

Please visit nextstephometour.eventbrite.com to RSVP for the July 21 event, or nextstepopenhouse.eventbrite.com to reserve a spot for the public event on July 8.

About Texas Community Builders:
Texas Community Builders is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCL of Texas. Texas Community builders was chartered in 2000, and is led by a volunteer board of directors. Its portfolio of properties includes commercial office, single family, multi family, industrial and land bank.

About BCL of Texas
Established in 1990 as a statewide not-for-profit Certified Development Corporation, BCL of Texas successfully promotes homeownership and community development and provides business capital and commercial real estate loans throughout Texas. The organization also offers homebuyer education classes, assists first-time homebuyers with the purchase of their first home and helps customers remain responsible and successful homebuyers. BCL of Texas is a member of the nation-wide NeighborWorks® Network, which engages in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. For more information, visit www.bcloftexas.org.

About Next Step Network®
Next Step Network mobilizes a national network of nonprofits to provide affordable housing tailored to the needs of communities that they serve. Their system – Manufactured Housing Done Right® – connects responsible financing, comprehensive homebuyer education and delivery of high-quality, ENERGY STAR® certified manufactured homes at scale, creating a model that brings more value to the customer. Learn more at www.nextstepus.org.

About Clayton
Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness® through homeownership. As a diverse builder committed to quality and durability, Clayton offers traditional site-built homes and off-site built housing – including modular homes, manufactured homes, CrossMod® homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments. All Clayton Built® homes are proudly designed and constructed in America. In 2022, Clayton built 62,620 homes across the country. Clayton is a Berkshire Hathaway company. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.
*CrossMod is a registered trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute. *