A comprehensive look at the Sheboygan housing market through people’s eyes

SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — Single mother Cha Xiong has been living in an unintentionally full house for almost two years.

She stays with her brother, his two children, and his two children as he tries to get back on his own two feet.

“My children are almost adults, and we still don’t have a place to call home,” Xiong said. “Nothing actually progressed.”

Mikenzie Hammel, TMJ4

Although his life has stabilized, he cannot go out. The Sheboygan housing market has other plans.

“When I look at houses, I think, ‘Oh, I can’t find anything, so I might as well buy a flat, it’ll be easier, right?’ “But then when I look at the apartments, I see that they cost as much as the mortgage.”

Xiong earns too much money to qualify for low-income housing, but not enough to buy a three-bedroom house. It has been on the market for more than nine months.

“I always wanted to give (my children) more…”

Watch: How Sheboygan’s housing market affects ordinary people:

Challenges of buying a home in Sheboygan County

Median home prices in Sheboygan, according to the Wisconsin Association of Realtors. increased by 16% in the last year. As of August, that figure was $284,500. Meanwhile, housing sales decreased by 17%.

Born and raised in Sheboygan, Beatriz Amador became a homeowner for the first time in February, but it wasn’t easy for her either.

“The market was ridiculously crazy,” he said, shaking his head.

Amador’s family had to overcome difficulties to receive financial aid. Many options have emerged along the way.

Mikenzie Hammel, TMJ4

“It turned out we didn’t qualify, so our down payment wasn’t there. We were really scared about how we were going to proceed with this; we were relying on that money,” he explained. “We really didn’t think we would find our home.”

Community Development Partners, An organization that provides resources and financial assistance to renters and homebuyers in Sheboygan and four other counties stepped in to cover the Amadors’ down payment.

Amador, who works for Partners, seized the moment. “I never had a house of my own, so this place was too big for us,” he said with a smile.

A. housing report A report from the City of Sheboygan released this summer found a vacancy rate of less than 1% for owned homes. More than 3,000 homes, excluding rental units, are needed to alleviate high demand.

Kierra Brooks, 32, was also lucky to find a home. He said properties were available one day and gone the next.

“Some of these rents are…two bedrooms, $2,000,” Brooks quipped. “Who can afford this, especially if you’re a single mom like me?”

Mikenzie Hammel, TMJ4

Brooks heard about Community Development Partners through co-workers at the Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce. Despite their guidance, it took more than six months to close one home.

“Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to get a down payment,” he said. “There aren’t many homeowners in my family, especially at my age… My family doesn’t even own a house.”

Brooks advises people like Xiong to use as many resources as possible.

“It’s a very difficult process and it can be disheartening. But as long as you persevere, something will come of it.”

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