Workforce and Attainable Housing

Expanding Housing Options for Central Florida’s Working Households

Latitude 98 develops and evaluates housing intended for working individuals and families who may earn too much to qualify for certain housing-assistance programs but still struggle to afford market-rate homes and rents.

Through our Community Housing division, we pursue workforce and attainable housing opportunities throughout Orlando and Central Florida in partnership with municipalities, counties, employers, landowners, lenders, investors, nonprofit organizations, and community-development partners.

Our goal is to create practical, well-designed housing near employment, transportation, schools, services, and established communities.

The Need Between Affordable and Market-Rate Housing

Many working households fall into a difficult middle ground.

Their incomes may exceed the limits for traditional affordable-housing programs, yet rising home prices, rents, insurance, utilities, transportation, and other household expenses can make conventional market-rate housing difficult to afford.

These households may include:

Teachers
Nurses and healthcare workers
Police officers
Firefighters and first responders
Aviation employees
Hospitality workers
Construction and skilled-trade workers
Municipal employees
Administrative professionals
Retail and service employees
Young professionals
Military families and veterans
Working families
Retirees living on moderate fixed incomes

Workforce and attainable housing is intended to help close this gap by increasing the supply of homes priced for the people who support the region’s economy and communities.

What Is Workforce Housing?

Workforce housing generally serves working households whose incomes are above the limits of some traditional affordable-housing programs but are not sufficient to comfortably afford prevailing market-rate housing.

The exact income range and affordability requirements vary by location, funding source, employer, municipality, and housing program.

Workforce housing may include:

Attainably priced for-sale homes
Moderately priced rental homes
Townhomes
Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes
Small apartment communities
Mixed-income developments
Build-to-rent homes
Employer-supported housing
Housing near major employment centers
Scattered-site infill housing

Latitude 98 evaluates each project based on local incomes, housing costs, land prices, construction expenses, financing, and the needs of the surrounding workforce.

What Is Attainable Housing?

Attainable housing is a broader term for homes that are realistically within reach of local residents without requiring an unsustainable share of their income.

It may serve:

First-time homebuyers
Moderate-income households
Working families
Single-income households
Young professionals
Empty nesters
Seniors
Essential workers
Households seeking smaller or more efficient homes

Attainable housing does not necessarily require a public subsidy or income restriction.

It may be created through efficient design, smaller lots, moderate home sizes, thoughtful density, simplified finishes, lower land costs, reduced infrastructure expenses, public-private partnerships, or innovative financing structures.

Our Workforce and Attainable Housing Focus

Latitude 98 evaluates a range of housing models based on the site, local demand, zoning, project economics, and available partnerships.

Attainable For-Sale Homes

We evaluate new homes designed for buyers seeking quality construction at a more accessible price point.

Potential projects may include:

Infill single-family homes
Smaller-footprint homes
Townhomes
Cottage communities
Duplex-style ownership
Entry-level new construction
First-time buyer communities
Mixed-income neighborhoods
Homes on publicly or privately contributed land
Hurricane-resilient attainable homes

The objective is to control costs without compromising safety, durability, functionality, or neighborhood quality.

Workforce Rental Housing

Rental housing may provide flexibility for workers who are not ready to purchase a home or who need to live close to employment.

Potential rental projects may include:

Single-family rental homes
Townhome communities
Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes
Small apartment properties
Mixed-income rental communities
Build-to-rent neighborhoods
Housing near hospitals, airports, schools, and employment centers
Employer-supported rental programs

Rental projects may be conventionally financed or developed with public, employer, nonprofit, or institutional participation.

Missing-Middle Housing

Missing-middle housing provides more residential options than a conventional detached home while maintaining a neighborhood-oriented scale.

Potential housing types include:

Duplexes
Triplexes
Fourplexes
Townhomes
Courtyard apartments
Cottage clusters
Small condominium buildings
Accessory dwelling units
Small-scale multifamily properties

These formats can help increase housing supply, reduce per-unit land costs, and provide more attainable options within established neighborhoods.

Mixed-Income Communities

Mixed-income development may include market-rate, workforce, and income-restricted homes within the same project.

This approach can:

Create a wider range of housing choices
Support economically diverse communities
Improve project feasibility
Avoid concentrating lower-cost housing in one area
Serve households at multiple income levels
Support long-term neighborhood stability

The unit mix and affordability structure would be determined by the project’s location, funding, market demand, and partner requirements.

Build-to-Rent Workforce Communities

Build-to-rent communities may provide professionally managed homes for working households that prefer the space and privacy of a single-family home without the immediate cost of homeownership.

Potential features may include:

Detached or attached homes
Private entrances
Functional floor plans
Community open space
Energy-efficient systems
Durable, low-maintenance materials
Predictable property management
Locations near employment and transportation

Projects may be retained by Latitude 98, developed with investment partners, or delivered to a long-term housing owner.

Employer-Supported Housing

Employers throughout Central Florida are affected by housing costs.

When workers cannot afford to live near their jobs, employers may experience:

Recruiting challenges
Employee turnover
Longer commute times
Attendance problems
Reduced workforce stability
Difficulty filling essential positions

Latitude 98 welcomes opportunities to work with employers and workforce organizations on housing strategies such as:

Housing near major employment centers
Employer-assisted down-payment programs
Master-leased rental units
Preferred employee housing
Land contributions
Below-market financing
Housing stipends
Joint development partnerships
Workforce housing funds
Public-private employer initiatives

Potential partners may include:

Hospitals and healthcare systems
Airports and aviation businesses
Hospitality companies
Schools and universities
Municipal employers
Public-safety agencies
Construction companies
Industrial employers
Large service-sector businesses

Working With Municipalities and Counties

Local governments may support workforce and attainable housing through land-use policies, density allowances, public land, fee assistance, infrastructure participation, financing, or development partnerships.

Latitude 98 is interested in opportunities involving:

Publicly owned land
Surplus municipal parcels
Infill redevelopment
Mixed-income communities
Workforce housing districts
Transit-oriented development
Density incentives
Expedited permitting
Impact-fee assistance
Infrastructure participation
Housing trust funds
Public-private development agreements

Each project would be structured according to the applicable public process, local housing goals, affordability requirements, and available resources.

Opportunities for Landowners

Landowners may have property that is well positioned for workforce or attainable housing.

We evaluate:

Vacant residential land
Commercial property suitable for rezoning
Underused institutional land
Church-owned property
Surplus employer land
Infill lots
Larger parcels with subdivision potential
Small multifamily sites
Aging rental properties
Properties near major employers
Land near transportation corridors
Sites suitable for mixed-income development

Depending on the opportunity, Latitude 98 may consider purchasing the property, entering into a joint venture, using a ground lease, creating a development agreement, or coordinating a phased project.

Designing for Real Affordability

The cost of housing extends beyond the purchase price or monthly rent.

Latitude 98 considers long-term household expenses throughout the design and development process, including:

Energy consumption
Insurance
Maintenance
Property taxes
Utility costs
Transportation
Storm resilience
Replacement costs
Homeowners association expenses

Potential cost-conscious design strategies may include:

Efficient floor plans
Moderate home sizes
Smaller lots
Shared infrastructure
Energy-efficient systems
Durable exterior materials
Low-maintenance finishes
Simple rooflines
Standardised building plans
Practical storage
Storm-conscious construction
Reduced common-area expenses

The objective is to create housing that remains reasonably attainable to occupy, operate, and maintain.

A Balanced Approach to Quality and Cost

Workforce housing should not mean poorly designed or low-quality housing.

Latitude 98 seeks to create homes that are:

Safe
Durable
Energy efficient
Functional
Visually appealing
Appropriate for the neighborhood
Cost-conscious
Resilient in Florida’s climate
Practical to maintain
Designed for long-term use

Cost savings should come from efficient planning, disciplined construction, thoughtful density, and appropriate materials—not from compromising essential quality.

Our Development Process

1. Identify the Housing Need

We evaluate local employment, household incomes, housing costs, population growth, and the types of homes most needed in the area.

2. Evaluate the Site

We review zoning, density, access, utilities, environmental conditions, flood exposure, infrastructure, and nearby employment.

3. Define the Housing Model

The project may include for-sale homes, rentals, mixed-income housing, missing-middle housing, or an employer-supported structure.

4. Establish Partnerships

We determine the roles of landowners, municipalities, employers, lenders, investors, nonprofit organizations, and long-term operators.

5. Complete Feasibility and Financing

We evaluate construction costs, land costs, financing, incentives, operating expenses, projected pricing, and long-term affordability.

6. Plan, Design and Permit

Latitude 98 coordinates architecture, engineering, entitlements, permitting, and agency approvals.

7. Construct the Project

We oversee construction with attention to quality, scheduling, cost control, durability, and accountability.

8. Sell, Lease or Retain the Housing

Completed homes may be sold to qualified buyers, leased to residents, retained as long-term investments, or transferred to a housing or investment partner.

Serving Orlando and Central Florida

Latitude 98 evaluates workforce and attainable housing opportunities throughout:

Orange County
Seminole County
Lake County
Osceola County
Volusia County
Polk County

Projects are evaluated based on local employment, housing demand, transportation, land availability, zoning, infrastructure, construction costs, and potential partnerships.

Partner With Latitude 98

We welcome workforce and attainable housing opportunities from:

Municipalities
Counties
Employers
Workforce organizations
Landowners
Investors
Lenders
Housing authorities
Nonprofit organizations
Community development groups
Brokers
Builders and contractors
Institutional property owners

Whether the opportunity involves one buildable lot, an employer-supported rental community, a mixed-income development, or a larger attainable homeownership project, Latitude 98 is prepared to evaluate the development strategy.

Housing for the People Who Keep Central Florida Moving

Teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, aviation employees, hospitality workers, skilled tradespeople, public employees, and working families are essential to Central Florida’s continued growth.

Latitude 98 is committed to developing practical housing solutions that help these households live closer to work, build stability, and participate in the communities they serve.