Origin Homes is expanding its Rural Housing Initiative to Panora and adding a third phase in Knoxville’s Veterans District, the custom home builder announced.

Origin Homes, a subsidiary of Hubbell Realty Co., plans to build five, 1,400- to 1,500-square-foot ranch houses in Panora’s Dream Acres public-private neighborhood. The neighborhood is being developed by Panora Fiber.

The homes are needed in Panora, the community’s mayor said. “Right now, we have employers struggling to fill key positions, young families who want to stay but can’t find a home and newcomers ready to join our community – if we can find them homes,” said Curt Thornberry, Panora’s mayor, said in a news release.

The home builder also plans on building five more homes in Knoxville, where it has previously built and sold 10 homes.

Origin Homes recently was awarded nearly $400,000 from Iowa’s Workforce Housing Tax Credit program, which is overseen by Iowa Economic Development Authority. The tax credits will be used to help lower the cost of building the houses.

“Without these credits, home prices would increase by at least $30,000 per home, something we believe would be unsustainable in our city,” Brian Hatch, Knoxville’s mayor, said in a news release.   

Origin Homes has built 28 homes in five communities – Gowrie, Manning, Conrad, Jefferson and Knoxville – as part of its Rural Housing Initiative program. Construction of the homes in Panora and Knoxville could begin yet this year.