Breaking ground on a miracle

POST FALLS — Garrett and Caitie Kreitz have been looking for a home within their price range since they moved to North Idaho in 2019. 

Earlier this year, they applied for a Miracle on Britton home and were surprised to learn they had been selected to become homeowners.

Garrett Kreitz said he felt “pure disbelief” when he saw the spot where their home will be built Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony. 

“We’ve been trying to buy a house for five years, and it was just kind of a saving grace,” he said. “It’s just a great thing. I think it’s something North Idaho is needing.” 

He works in the assessor's office and Caitie is a wax technician. They'll be sharing the home with their 3-year-old. They've already started imagining the ways their lives would improve. 

“We can walk to the school,” Garrett Kreitz said. 

The Miracle on Britton has raised $750,000 of its $1.1 million goal. The project makes homebuying more accessible through community land trusts and property development alliances. 

Panhandle Area Housing Alliance Executive Director Maggie Lyons said nine homebuyers have been approved, and several more are close to completing the approval process. PAHA has received more than 200 applications.  

She noted that homebuyer education training and loan approvals for the individuals selected has gone well.

“These are just amazing, hardworking individuals in our community,” Lyons said.   

PAHA’s construction partner is Simplicity by Hayden Homes. The plan to is to build 15 homes in 2025 and the remaining 13 homes in 2026 on the 4.65-acre parcel on Britton Road in Post Falls.

Investors, partners, PAHA’s board and volunteers, Post Falls officials and some of the new homebuyers came together to celebrate the milestone for the deed-restricted, shared-equity homes. 

Future Britton resident Nathan Armon said it’s been a struggle to find a place within his price range. 

“We really feel like we were locked out of the market. It didn’t seem to even be dreamable six months ago,” he said. 

To finally view where his house will go and be able to walk the land was almost as exciting for him as being introduced to the neighborhood.  

“It was really cool to meet all the people involved who made this happen for us and to meet our neighbors,” Armon said. 

He has been searching for a place to buy since 2019.

“I kind of figured I was renting forever,” Armon said.  

Info: pahaid.org

    The Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance plans to build 15 homes in 2025 and the remaining 13 homes will start in early 2026 as part of the Miracle on Britton.

    Nathan Armon is looking forward to gardening at his new home next year at the Miracle on Britton.

  

    Future homeowners broke ground at the Miracle on Britton with gold-colored shovels Wednesday. The Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance plans to build 15 homes in 2025 and the remaining 13 homes will start in early 2026. In photo: Garrett Kreitz, Nathan Armon, Melissa Kimp, Colin McIver-Zeckula, Casey Doyle, Daniel Doyle, Sean Salmon, Taytem Wolfe and Desiree Rubley.