The Steinbach housing sector will get a huge boost this year as 67 homes will be built in Lexington Village. The new neighbourhood is being established on the south side of Mckenzie Avenue, just west of the Meadows. Waldo Neustaedter of Century 21 Gold Key Realty says the homes are designed to be affordable with prices ranging from $180,000 to $220,000 dollars and requiring only a one percent down payment. All but three or four of the homes have been pre-sold and the remainder are awaiting final approval of financing. Neustaedter says this development has been a few years in the making that started with the purchase of land in the RM of Hanover and then getting a friendly annexation agreement that saw the area become part of Steinbach.

"It's a joint effort between Three-Way Builders, Century 21 Gold Key Realty as well as Goldmark Developments and also the Steinbach Credit Union whom we engaged and worked out a really nice plan for homeowners to be able to afford a home and to have a very good financing process. It's been a collaborative team effort in the community to provide this for the community."

Neustaedter says they sensed a need for housing in this price range and the response from buyers proved them right.

"Basically we're sold out. There'll be 67 homes built. It's been very, very well received. We knew there was a huge need in our community for a program like this and the community has come forward and said, yes, we want to embrace this and we want to own a home here and we want to raise our family here. It's just a great start for folks in the southeastern Manitoba area."

Neustaedter says their customers include first-time home buyers but also people who have perhaps been through a marriage breakdown and are starting over again. He says the properties are all big enough for people to add amenities in the future.

"We wanted to have the lots developed wide enough so that down the road, if they wanted to stay in that community and maybe add a garage to their home and expand on the home that we're building for them now, that those opportunities would be there and the land base would be there to do it."

Phase one of Lexington Village will have 67 homes and he adds the whole development will eventually have 330 residences. Construction of the first homes is underway and the first families will move in August 15th.