Fort hopes unique program
will lead to in-migration of families
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MICHAEL BOSSE, Fort Fairfield’s marketing and economic director, stands in the newly-renovated kitchen of a home that is for sale through the town’s HOMEBuyer Program. Overseen by the Fort Fairfield Quality of Place Council, the program seeks to enhance the in-migration of families to live in Fort Fairfield, raise and educate their children, and add to the overall vitality of the community. The home is located at 48 Brunswick Avenue.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Fort Fairfield is entering the real estate business, and has a three-bedroom home already on the market.
According to Michael Bosse, the town’s marketing and economic director, the Fort Fairfield Quality of Place Council has introduced a new incentive program for home purchasers called the HOMEBuyer Program.
“The objectives of the HOMEBuyer Program are to make home ownership affordable for families and to increase owner occupancy in Fort Fairfield,” he said. “The HOMEBuyer Program’s primary goal is to enhance the in-migration of families to live in Fort Fairfield, raise and educate their children here, and add to the overall vitality of the community.”
To implement the HOMEBuyer Program, the Quality of Place Council will purchase properties in Fort Fairfield and either rehab or build a home that would appeal to the targeted group. They will then sell the home in such a way that the owner would realize equity after maintaining residency for a designated period of time.
Earlier this spring, the Council made its first purchase, a rundown house located at 48 Brunswick Avenue. The funds for the home purchase and renovations were borrowed from the Fort Fairfield Development Corp., a private non-profit established for the purpose of aiding in the development of Fort Fairfield. The renovations consisted of foundation work and all new appliances, siding, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, flooring, interior doors, exterior doors, kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. Repair work is now complete and the house is for sale.
“We did a lot of work to this house including adding closets, putting in doorways and expanding the kitchen,” said Bosse. “It took about two-and-a-half months to do all the work, and the difference between then and now is like night and day.”
“We are able to offer 48 Brunswick Avenue for sale at below appraised value with a very low down payment,” said Quality of Place Chair Brent Churchill. “The down payment on this property could be as low as $4,000 and the payments could be lower than most families pay to live in an apartment. This is a very affordable way for a young family to live in Fort Fairfield and build home equity quickly.”
The Quality of Place Council has created guidelines they follow to establish the selling price, down payment and other criteria to help with the sale of the house.
“The only requirements are that the buyer have a bank or credit union they work with, a small down payment and the willingness to make Fort Fairfield their home during a short recapture period,” said Bosse, “and in return, the Quality of Place Council will help with most of the down payment. Located close to schools, this home is ideal for a young family.”
Bosse called the 48 Brunswick Avenue property the “first of many” homes the Council hopes to renovate and sell.
“Another good thing about this program is that it supports local businesses,” he said, “as the work on the homes will be done by local contractors, plumbers and electricians.”
For more information about the home or program, visit FortFairfield.org or call Bosse at 472-3800.
