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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Page 32 <br />Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are popular options for <br />individuals and families post retirement. By law, this <br />population is eligible to live in legally “age-restricted” <br />communities. <br />Other persons living in group quarters include <br />individuals with developmental disabilities. As these <br />individuals age, it is likely that some will require assisted <br />living or nursing care facilities 3. <br /> Value and Cost of Housing <br />Sale prices of homes are a common indicator of the <br />value of homes available within a community. The <br />average sale price for homes in the Lower Kittitas County <br />area was $250,573 in 2006. By the second quarter of 2017 the average listing price of single-family homes <br />available for sale was $257,573, with the average climbing to $355,354 in Upper Kittitas County. The median <br />home value within Kittitas County was listed at $280,231 4. <br />Housing Affordability <br />This increase in home purchase prices has made home ownership beyond the affordability of many potential <br />homebuyers. According to the 2017 Kittitas County Homeless and Affordable Housing Plan, the median <br />household income in Kittitas County was $45,406 compared to $60,294 in Washington State. <br />The per capita income for Kittitas County is listed at $24,014 compared to $31,233 for Washington State. The <br />latest 5-year estimate from the American Community Survey places median monthly ownership costs (with a <br />mortgage) at $1,476. Although Washington State and Kittitas County are fairly similar in mortgage costs (as a <br />percentage of income), Kittitas County has a higher proportion of households with a mortgage over 35% of <br />income. As the Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) classifies families who pay more <br />than 30 percent of their income for housing as “cost burdened”, this inequity typically translates to increased <br />challenges in affording other necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, home improvements, and <br />medical care. In Kittitas County, the current mortgage limit for a FHA single-family loan is $275,665. <br />Rental Properties <br />Data from the 2006 U.S. Census indicated a median rent of $497 for Kittitas County. 2016 contracted <br />apartment rent was $808, (lower quartile is $569, upper quartile is $1,097) representing a 63% increase from <br />2006 median rent estimates. At the time of this census, there were 7,186 renter households in Kittitas County. <br />When considering the per capita income of Kittitas County in conjunction with the HUD recommended <br />percentage of income to be spent on rental costs, an individual should spend approximately $600 on a single <br />bedroom housing unit. <br /> <br />3 Kittitas County Mental Health/Developmental Disability Board <br />4 Figures based on information provided by local real estate broker database listing services