The Wave of the Future for Affordable Housing”

Rising energy costs and out-of-reach home prices have kept many would-be home buyers locked out of the housing market. Alpha Verde Group aims to change that by providing energy-efficient, affordable housing in well-maintained land-leased communities.

Alpha Verde provides home-buyers with low-cost alternatives, offering beautiful, turn-key manufactured homes at reasonable prices. The group currently manages five land-leased communities in central Maine, and is quickly moving forward with the development of a new master-planned 78-acre community, Kennebec Valley Estates. Alpha Verde’s diversified communities provide an array of lifestyle options, ranging from family neighborhood living to leisurely retiree villages.

“We saw a growing population of the older generation moving from the outlying rural areas because of high energy costs and needing to be closer to quality health care and shopping,” says Alpha Verde co-founder, Mike Crocker. “We wanted to provide homes that could be truly affordable. The cost-effective HUD homes make it possible to buy and maintain a new home on a fixed income.”

HUD (Housing Urban Development) approved homes already meet federal building standards and codes which supersede local codes. This allows homes to be put directly onto lots without having to go through lengthy local code procedures. Some manufactured homes are not HUD-approved and require city permits to be put onto the lot. 

Originally from Maine, Crocker and his Alpha Verde partners began buying older land-leased communities, cleaning them up and outfitting them with new energy-efficient, HUD-approved homes geared toward retiring baby boomers.

“We saw that the older, two-story homes people were leaving were expensive to heat, with stairs and narrow halls that were sometimes difficult for older folks to move around in,” says Crocker. “We found that often, the monthly payment on one of these new homes in our communities, including the heating costs, was the same as the monthly heating cost of the old home.  Plus, the homes we offer are single level ranch-style and can be custom outfitted with things like wider hallways to meet people’s living needs.”

Alpha Verde’s Energy Star-certified homes not only reduce energy and housing costs, they can also afford eligible buyers with tax credits and specialized mortgage programs, like the Federal Housing Authority’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program. The mortgage program recognizes the homes’ savings in energy costs and allows the buyer to purchase a bigger home and more cost-effective improvements in exchange for Energy Star certification.

We toured many home manufacturers to find the highest quality home with the best energy efficiency. We want to sell homes that people are proud to own, homes that they can enjoy for years to come that also have good resell value down the road.

Alpha Verde’s land-leased communities are some of the best in the state, offering many amenities often overlooked by other developers. We have an onsite manager and maintenance worker.

This is the wave of the future for affordable housing. By integrating more green materials and making our communities far more efficient by creating our own energy systems, garden plots and other off-the-grid features, our communities provide peace of mind and pride of ownership for residents.

Visit Alpha Verde online or stop by our Augusta office at 541 Riverside Drive (open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) for a complete list of homes and community openings currently available. You can also reach them at 207-312-1200 to discuss which of Alpha Verde’s affordable, energy-efficient housing and community options best meets your needs.