Noblesville voter endorses Devon Wellington because she understands housing problems

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Dear Editor:

I’ve lived in Noblesville for more than 25 years. This past year I’ve seen our housing market from a new angle, helping our adult child search for a first home.

Since April, we’ve checked new listings almost daily, with a firm budget under $260,000. That’s a lot of money, but in today’s Noblesville it doesn’t go far. Average working people are getting priced out of our community. Median sale prices have run roughly $390,000 to $420,000 this year, and the homes within budget needed major repairs. When we made an offer, there were often five to seven others submitting offers as well, and the home was listed only a day or two.

During this process, I learned how many neighborhoods now include investor-owned rentals. A 2024 Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana study found investors owned about 42 percent of Hamilton County’s single-family rentals. I have no quarrel with a neighbor who owns a rental or two. My concern is large out-of-state firms buying homes in bulk, though I can’t say how much they affect prices here. But when first-time buyers are outbid again and again, it’s fair to ask who the market is working for. Meanwhile, renters trying to save for a down payment are paying rising rent, which makes saving harder every month. Becoming a first-time homebuyer is getting harder.

At a community event, I shared these frustrations with Devon Wellington, who is running for state representative in Indiana House District 29. She told me she supports everyday people becoming homeowners and her campaign says she will push to limit how many single-family homes out-of-state investors can turn into rentals.

If you’re a parent helping a grown child, a young couple saving for a first home or a renter who feels stuck, you are not alone. Many families here feel this squeeze. This isn’t about effort. It’s about the rules we play by. Housing, taxes, and wages are shaped by decisions made in Indianapolis, by the people we elect. That is why I’m voting for Devon.

Learn more about Devon’s positions, and most importantly, vote on Nov. 3.

Charlene Stacy
Noblesville