Fortas Homes: Going Back to What Was

Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio

Sometimes bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to buying your first home! As home builders continue to go big across metro Atlanta, many home shoppers feel overwhelmed by the larger homes and rising prices. Jim Cheeks, president of Fortas Homes, joins Host Carol Morgan on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss how Fortas Homes is navigating the affordable housing crisis by “going back to what was” and building smaller homes priced under $300,000.

Smaller Home, Affordable Price Tag

Cheeks believes that building smaller homes in denser communities is the secret to affordable housing. The “American dream” idea of a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home suits some homebuyers but remains unaffordable for others.

Cheeks said, “By prioritizing compact, well-designed homes, we’re creating real opportunities for home ownership in neighborhoods where prices might otherwise be out of reach.”

What does that look like for Atlanta homebuyers? One of Fortas Homes’ most recent developments features 320-square-foot homes with second-level lofts. With this design, the builder fits four units on a single lot in Atlanta, offering cozy residences that young homebuyers looking for a starter home or older individuals seeking a fresh start after major life changes.

Understanding ADUs

This year, Cheeks says that Fortas Homes plans to build 104 accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which offer additional living space outside of the primary home. Some homeowners rent out their ADUs, while others utilize the extra space for multigenerational living. Fortas Homes operates as a fee builder for nonprofits, while also building spec homes in the build-to-rent (BTR) sector. Due to local legislation, it can only increase unit counts in communities if they’re BTR products. He explains that, by working with the local code and building regulations, Fortas Homes delivers a variety of housing typologies to different neighborhoods.

“If the city changes the zoning and allows for ADUs or guest houses to be sold in the future, then we’re going to be well-positioned to sell those houses,” said Cheeks. “Even if we sell them at market rates, they’re still going to be more affordable than whatever the market rate is in that particular neighborhood.”

Partnership with Atlanta Neighborhood Development

Cheeks credits Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., with growing the Fortas Homes portfolio. Known for its success in multifamily housing, the organization approached Cheeks about its venture into the single-family home sector.

One of the partnership’s first projects, a 12-foot-wide-by-36-foot-long home, attracted the attention of then-Commissioner of Housing, Terri Lee, during development. At its completion, Lee requested that the Mayor’s Sub-Cabinet for affordable housing meet in the home, including representatives from the Atlanta Beltline, city officials and other important figures.

Cheeks said, “Land cost has really gone up, so that’s why we’ve now focused as much as possible on how to get the maximum amount of density on a single lot.”

Designing for Affordable Homes

Cheeks describes how small changes, such as an entrance on the side of the home, maximize space in smaller homes. That one change provides four access points from one hallway, including the main entrance, foyer, landing for the stairs and an entrance to the powder room. Another unique aspect of these homes is closet design. Fortas Homes places closets over stairwells to meet head height code requirements and add an additional 20 square feet for homeowners.

Tune in to the full episode to discover more about how smaller homes soothe the affordable housing crisis in Atlanta. For more information about Fortas Homes, visit www.Fortas.Homes.

About Fortas Homes

Based in Atlanta, Fortas Homes is a premier homebuilder and developer known for its high-quality single-family, detached and attached homes in the city. With a deep understanding of homebuyer’s desires, Fortas has focused on developing infill homes and small developments in neighborhoods close to downtown Atlanta, including Summerhill, Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh, Glenwood Park and Grant Park.

Podcast Thanks

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About Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio

Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, presented by Denim Marketing, highlights the movers and shakers in the Atlanta real estate industry – the home builders, developers, Realtors and suppliers working to provide the American dream for Atlantans. For more information on how you can be featured as a guest, contact Denim Marketing at 770-383-3360 or fill out the Atlanta Real Estate Forum contact form. Subscribe to the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast on iTunes, and if you like this week’s show, be sure to rate it.