Start-up company in Orange County intends to solve a housing problem in Southern California
California is an amazing, lively state with over 300 sunny days a year. It is a hub for almost everyone in the world. It has ocean, deserts, mountains, Hollywood, and other great benefits. People come here to start businesses, find jobs, relax, surf and spend the rest of their lives. Sounds thrilling, does not it?
However, how about basic necessities such as housing here? Buying a house in California sounds very scary and quite impossible with current housing affordability index of 29%, which is, by the way, one of the lowest in the US. It means that more than 70% of Californians spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is it possible to solve such a major problem? Why do housing prices grow with rocket speed? The cost of life in California, prices for land plots in major urban areas and rapid growth of residents increase housing prices greatly. However, as we know, wages and salaries do not grow at the same speed here. So, the question is — how can housing become more affordable in California so that half of population’s monthly income does not go towards housing expenses? How can life quality increase? How can we provide more opportunities for a bigger influx of talents and tourism into California?
We can start building modular houses which are made from shipping containers, what drops the cost significantly. Use of imported materials, low company’s fees and rational approach to construction will contribute greatly towards lowering home prices as well. That’s what Lighthouse Corp. USA did. They created modular housing units — BOXONO — made from shipping containers and the price is so low that it is even cheaper than buying some cars. It looks like an easy purchase, does not it? What Lighthouse does is that they import materials for the house from overseas where costs for the materials are a third of the price in California and charge very low fees for their services. Therefore, construction of modular home does not require the same type of foundation and earth works as the construction of a traditional house.
You will probably ask — where can I locate such a house if land lords in California ask crazy prices for their land? The answer is: you can locate your house in Mobile Home Parks, because BOXONO is transportable and land lease could be a great alternative especially if the owner moves to different places all the time.
So, what do we have as a result? We have a very inexpensive house which can be transported and assembled anywhere, we have mobile home parks or opportunities for land lease. And what does that mean? It means that anyone even with low income can afford a house in California and it will continue to be a prospering, innovative and attractive state for everyone.
