Arizona Starter Homes Act to set standards for single-family home lots

Arizona Senate and House lawmakers are looking again at a bipartisan solution to help lower prices for first-time homebuyers. A similar bill was vetoed last year by Governor Katie Hobbs.

Representative Justin Wilmeth (R) and Representative Cesar Aguilar (D) joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the Arizona Starter Home Act.

The bill would strip larger Arizona cities and towns of the right to set standards for single-family home lot and building sizes. It also bars their ability to set design standards. Part of the state’s shortage is tied to the foreclosure crisis that started in 2007.

Arizona led the nation with the highest rate of foreclosures. The League of Cities and Towns objected to the bill, saying it deregulates standards for building and zoning.

“We’re basically allowing for homes and new additions under a five-acre total plot land to be able to subdivide and add new domiciles on our existing ones,” Representative Wilmeth said.

The lots allow for about a 1,500-square-foot home, which is not a large land of space. Representative Aguilar says these lots are proposed because younger people are buying homes however not having many kids and not having many vehicles as well. He says the goal is to make homes affordable.

“When you’re using less materials like we’re trying to do here with this law, it should lower the price,” Representative Aguilar said.

Some city mayors have seen The Starter Homes Act as an intrusion on their own plans. Representative Aguilar says some cities are doing great, however Phoenix in particular needs improvement.

Moving forward, within the next two weeks, the bill will have a definite approval or denial, according to Representative Wilmeth.