Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the statewide expansion of “MOVE-IN NY,” an affordable homeownership program that aims to address the shortage of starter homes in New York. The initiative, which began as a pilot with three new homes built in Schenectady, Syracuse, and Newcomb, will now scale up to construct as many as 200 additional homes across the state.
“This groundbreaking initiative has the potential to revolutionize the way we create high-quality, beautifully designed starter homes in New York,” Governor Hochul said. “With the cooperation of our local partners in urban, rural, and suburban areas of the state, the MOVE-IN program will help address the rising cost of housing and enable more New Yorkers to afford a home of their own and achieve the dream of homeownership.”
The pilot was a collaboration between New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) and Champion Homes, a manufactured housing company based in Sangerfield. The initial homes were factory-built three-bedroom houses installed on vacant land provided by local land banks. Each took six months to complete at a cost of about $250,000—significantly less expensive and faster than traditional construction methods. These homes are being sold below construction cost to low- and moderate-income buyers.
To support this expansion, HCR is opening a Request for Applications for interested local governments, land banks, non-profit developers, and manufacturers at https://hcr.ny.gov/moveinny.
The MOVE-IN NY program utilizes prefabricated “CrossMod” homes that comply with federal standards and are eligible for conventional mortgages through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These homes can be integrated into various types of communities—including urban, suburban, and rural settings—and are designed to be both quick to build and affordable.
RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner/CEO of NYS Homes and Community Renewal said: “The MOVE-IN program represents an innovative pathway to creating affordable homeownership opportunities. This $50 million investment will enable the state to significantly spur the production of more housing at record speeds to address the issue of the lack of supply. Thanks to Governor Hochul for putting more tools in our toolbox so we could create new pathways to homeownership for New Yorkers. And special thanks to our partners in Syracuse, Schenectady, and Newcomb, as well as Champion Homes, for proving this program will be a success!”
According to recent data from HCR programs cited by Governor Hochul’s office:
– Construction costs have made it difficult for young families or older residents seeking smaller homes; typical small single-family home construction can exceed $450,000.
– Since taking office in 2022, Governor Hochul has launched initiatives such as a $465 million Homeowner Assistance Fund during the pandemic that helped nearly 20,000 homeowners stay in their residences.
– The FY 2023 Enacted State Budget included a $25 billion Housing Plan aiming for 100,000 affordable units statewide; over 65,000 have been created or preserved so far.
– Additional measures include down payment assistance totaling over $60 million for first-time buyers; emergency repair funding; storm recovery grants; strengthened foreclosure protections; anti-deed theft laws; legal services funding through HOPP; restrictions on large institutional investors purchasing residential properties en masse.
State Senator Rachel May commented: “Syracuse is a city full of potential, but too often that potential is locked up in vacant lots and out-of-reach housing prices. With MOVE-IN NY, we’re proving that we can bring new life to our neighborhoods, create attainable paths to homeownership, and build the kinds of homes that let more people put down roots and build families here. This is exactly the kind of innovation we need to grow stronger, more welcoming communities across Central New York.”
Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara stated: “Every family deserves the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership, and the MOVE-IN NY program is making that possible in communities like Schenectady and across our state. By using innovative building methods to cut costs and speed up construction, we’re opening doors for first-time homebuyers and creating new opportunities for families who might otherwise be priced out. This is a smart investment in our neighborhoods, our workforce, and the future of New York.”
Schenectady Mayor Gary R. McCarthy added: “The Move-In New York program is a smart and timely tool to help us build high-quality housing at a fast pace and address the housing affordability crisis facing communities across our state. Schenectady is proud to lead the way as one of the first cities to participate in this initiative…”
Other local leaders echoed support for MOVE-IN NY’s focus on affordable factory-built housing models.
James Davis from Champion Homes remarked: “The need for affordable housing is not going away. The MOVE-IN program addresses the housing crisis head-on with factory-built housing. The program brings affordable homes to market quickly…”
For more information about applying or participating organizations can visit https://hcr.ny.gov/moveinny.
