Kansas City REALTORS® will be partnering with Habitat for Humanity to help increase affordable housing supply at this year’s REALTORS® Rock the Block event on Sept. 17.
In July 2025, the average sale price of a home in Johnson County, Kansas was $583,833, according to Heartland MLS data. Not only is this an 8.4% increase since the same time last year, but the average sale price in the county has consistently increased since surpassing $500,000 in 2023. This is an obstacle to homeownership that Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is working to alleviate through their new Pathway at Heritage Park development in Olathe, Kansas.
“Johnson County is facing a pressing affordable housing crisis,” said Lindsay Hicks, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City. “Roughly 40% of renters and 20% of homeowners are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and homes priced under $300,000 have virtually disappeared from the market. By building 14 attainable homes right here in one of the region’s wealthiest counties, we’re creating a real pathway for local workers and families to live, work and raise their children in the communities they serve.”
Kansas City REALTORS® are taking this as an opportunity to personally affect change and support future homebuyers by volunteering to help with the construction of the homes in this new development at REALTORS® Rock the Block.
When KCRAR and Habitat KC created the REALTORS® Rock the Block event in 2016, the housing market in the region looked much different than it does today. The average sale price of a home in Johnson County in July 2016 was $306,257 and even less in Jackson County, where the first REALTORS® Rock the Block took place. The focus of REALTORS® Rock the Block at that time was to increase and sustain home value for homeowners through the revitalization of existing homes across the region. With low inventory and high demand driving up home value today, the focus of REALTORS® Rock the Block has shifted accordingly.
“I’m incredibly excited to see the KCRAR and Habitat KC’s Rock the Block initiative continue to grow, and this year marks a meaningful milestone as, for the first time, we’re turning our focus to new construction at our newest development, Pathway at Heritage Park in Olathe,” Hicks said.
Pathway at Heritage Park will ultimately include 14 affordable homes as well as a green space with walking paths and a community garden, but at this point in time, it is a handful of homes in various states of construction, primed for volunteers to continue moving the project forward.
KCRAR will be bringing together a group of REALTORS® and industry partners from across the region on Sept. 17 to tackle the new focus of REALTORS® Rock the Block: creating attainable housing for prospective homeowners. KCRAR members interested in joining the efforts can sign up to volunteer for REALTORS® Rock the Block, save the date for Pride Build on Oct. 15, or learn more about individual or group volunteer opportunities with Habitat KC.
Mary Lee Gilchrist • August 28, 2025 at 9:56 am
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