[Strel]

This is a useful tool for finding apartments, etc. in Florida that are subject to rent restrictions or otherwise set up a affordable housing.

Most of these places are nicer than what one would expect from "affordable housing", because Florida uses a competitive system in which developers have to fight over the affordable housing money - so they have to promise more amenities, rent restrictions, etc. than they would normally have to do.
You can even find a rent-restricted apartment in Key West, if you can believe that (through the magic of tax credit equity financing). We have a critical shortage of teachers, nurses, cops, etc. in Florida (they can't afford to live here!), so we are throwing quite a lot of money at the problem.

Anyway, this is NOT and advertisement. The operators of this site, Florida Housing, are a part of the state government of Florida (though they have partnerships with private developers whose logos you might see).

http://www.floridahousingsearch.org/

The rent restrictions and other requirements vary. Many of the units are "set-aside" (meaning some of the units are reserved) for people at 60% of Area Median Income - on average. That means in order to live in these developments, you have to make less than 60% of AMI (as determined by HUD). So, for example, if you lived in Leon County (Tallahassee), where the AMI is $50,000/year, you would have to make $30K or less to qualify. This varies widely, and it is almost never the case that the development is 100% set-aside, which means as much as 40% of the units could be market-rate...the idea being to avoid creating the "projects" that blight cities otherwise. Some developments are more restrictive, others designed for more "middle class" workforce housing, even up to 120% of AMI.

Other developments are specially set-aside for elderly, farmworkers, even homeless, so be sure to check the restrictions listed.

[Strel]

All this complaining about how expensive Florida is, and no one cares about this thread!

No wonder our PR guy is telling us we aren't getting the message out...

[Suncoaster]

Originally Posted by Strel

We have a critical shortage of teachers

Not to hijack the thread, but.... where in FL? What I've been hearing that the need for teachers, at least public school, is lessening as so many working people are moving out.

On the affordable housing issue, maybe local areas aren't publicizing the availability? I sure haven't heard of it. Or maybe the problem is that people would really like a place of their own, esp. if they have children - but even if they can find a modest little house in need of some TLC, the property taxes and insurance are like a 2nd mortgage. It's a terrible problem, and no fix is in sight.

[zee909]

Good info, Strel. Thanks for posting. I had never heard of it, but I've also been surprised how many people haven't heard of the "My Safe Florida Home" program. You're right, the State isn't doing a very good job of getting the word out.

[INeedAChange]

In the areas without rent control, how much (in the big apartment rental complexes) do the management usually jack up the rent when one's lease expires?

[FLANATIVE1]

Originally Posted by Suncoaster

Not to hijack the thread, but.... where in FL? What I've been hearing that the need for teachers, at least public school, is lessening as so many working people are moving out.

On the affordable housing issue, maybe local areas aren't publicizing the availability? I sure haven't heard of it. Or maybe the problem is that people would really like a place of their own, esp. if they have children - but even if they can find a modest little house in need of some TLC, the property taxes and insurance are like a 2nd mortgage. It's a terrible problem, and no fix is in sight.

Lee County needs teachers pretty bad. They hold job fairs annually to try and fill positions. Lee County saw the largest increase of students in the state. However, South Florida lost over 10,000 students this year. It really depends on the area.

And on the housing issue. You hit the nail on the head. Most places don't advertise it. They leave it up to the individual to seak it out. Also, they place so many restrictions and qualifications on it that most people don't even bother.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by Suncoaster

Not to hijack the thread, but.... where in FL? What I've been hearing that the need for teachers, at least public school, is lessening as so many working people are moving out.

Honestly I don't know the particulars - but that's what the Legislature keeps telling us. If you send me a PM I will ask our Policy people who should have that data. We get most of that information from the Shimberg Center based at the University of Florida.

Working people moving out is a HUGE problem here. We just started a new program to address that - the Community Workforce Housing Initiatives program (CWHIP) and in the next year we will be shoveling loads of $$$ out the window to develop affordable housing up to the 120% of AMI level - targeted at more middle class people, because they can't afford to live here either. We used to get complaints that bank tellers couldn't live anywhere near their jobs, now we get the same complaints from bank managers...

...but we are working on it!

On the affordable housing issue, maybe local areas aren't publicizing the availability? I sure haven't heard of it. Or maybe the problem is that people would really like a place of their own, esp. if they have children - but even if they can find a modest little house in need of some TLC, the property taxes and insurance are like a 2nd mortgage. It's a terrible problem, and no fix is in sight.

We do single-family homeownership loans as well. Property taxes are being taken up in a special session right now, and my boss is up there every day keeping tabs on it. So far he tells me that they don't seem to have a clue what to do...but we can hope. Ditto the insurance issue, but I do not think we are going to be able to do much about that, especially if we get another hurricane season like 04-05. And it looks like we are going to...

[kwflconch]

Some areas of Florida are still pretty affordable in areas such as Northern Florida and inland central Florida in counties around Lake Ockechobbee(dont no how to spell the lakes name)The median price for a home in Tampa is $202000, $250000 in orlando, which is cheap compared to miami which is $373000 and key west which is $730000. Tampas school enrollment grew by 1700 students but was growing at like 7000 students a year and is the 12th largest district in the us. miami has dropped by 8000. and orlando dropped by 500. so the areas that grew more are probably more attractive and affordable.

[CTGirlNoMore]

Thanks Strel, will look into this.

[Donna-50]

My DD had a friend that lived in one of thouse apts and the only she lived in was very nice. I had never heard of that until about 3 years ago and I have lived here since the early 1980's. I think people may associate it with a section 8 or something similar, at least I did until I was told differently.