Each year, OFS crews build or renovate 8-9 homes in Madison and other Dane County communities. These homes are sold on the open market to income-eligible homebuyers. OFS homes are carefully built or remodeled to be energy-efficient, free of hazards like lead paint or asbestos, and easy to maintain. Our newly-built homes meet or exceed Wisconsin Energy Star standards. Both newly-built and remodeled homes follow standards of sustainable construction and are certified by Green Built Homes, a certification process sponsored by the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative.

To be eligible to purchase one of our homes, your household income can be no greater than 80% of the local median income, adjusted for household size. As a buyer, you must occupy the OFS home. You needn't be a first-time homebuyer. However, you cannot own another home at the time of purchase.

To buy an OFS home, you must be able to obtain a first mortgage from a lending institution. To make the homes more affordable, OFS is able to offer buyers a "deferred" second mortgage. This second mortgage reduces the amount of the first mortgage required and makes monthly payments more affordable. You make no monthly payments on the second mortgage as long as you own the house, and only repay it when you sell the home.

To find out more about OFS homes, call Judy at 608-244-4721(office) or 608-444-1002 (cell) or contact us by e-mail at jolson@operationfreshstart.org.