Williston Housing Options | Video

Evan Kruegel | 5/8/2012

It`s no secret that the biggest issue facing Williston right now is affordable housing. Pre-owned homes around town rarely become available, and when they do, it doesn`t take long for a sold sign to go up.

"The problem with pre-owned homes is once they hit the market, they are so saturated that people will come in and put a contract out on them. And you`re dealing with four or five contracts at a time, so they get their hopes up and usually the one with the cash wins. Or the big oil companies come in and swoop them up. So it`s a bit difficult for a new family who is trying to start out once again in another town to qualify and buy these homes," said Bakken Realtor Stacey Lavidas.

When Whitney Miller decided to move her family to Williston, she did her research ahead of time.

"We knew about the crisis, we knew housing was short, all of the preexisting housing was nil to none, and so we looked in a different direction and that`s where were at today."

She decided the only option she had was to buy new.

"We came from Illinois, and we knew it was going to be a stretch to find housing, so we chose new construction. We`re very happy here and we were lucky enough to find housing right away. It`s a great neighborhood, the people here have been very polite, very kind, and we`re very lucky to be here."

While it`s difficult to buy a pre-owned home because of oil companies snatching them up, a little patience can pay off. Companies are much less willing to wait for new houses to be built. So if you are willing to wait, there`s a lot less competition.

"It’s just a matter of time and a matter of people working together, builders, developers, realtors, and putting our products out there and letting people know that we do have homes that are going to be available, and they`re going to be available real soon," Lavidas said.

For now, making the leap and buying a new home in Williston might just be your best bet.

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