'I feel powerless': How South Bend's top-ranked housing market is driving out long-term residents 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- "Powerless" one South Bend resident says: Today ABC57 met with a South Bend homeowner, she said her house is paid off, but she still can't afford to live there.

Local experts say the reason why could be the success of the housing market. The Wall Street Journal and Realtor dot com rank the South Bend-Mishawaka area as the number one housing market in the country earlier this year.

Jennifer Case says she's lived in this house on South Main Street in South Bend for five years.

“I'm finally to that point where I just, just, I can't afford it. It's completely paid off. But between property taxes and the rising utility costs are just killing me.” said Jennifer Case who is trying to sell her house, “My husband's not with me anymore, so I can't do it on my own income, and it's because my the utility bills and major main main upkeep is worth $1,000 a month. I'm on a fixed income because I'm on disability. I only get $700 a month. That's not enough to survive on."

Case says she also has an elderly roommate to help cover the cost of the house. But he can't afford to live there anymore either.
“I feel powerless, and I'm at a stage in my life, especially with my health issues. I'm at a stage in my life where I should be able to enjoy my grandchildren.” said Case, “I should be making family meals. I should be, you know, planning holidays, and I just can't do that. I'm frustrated, and I'm sad, and I feel like I'm missing out.”

Case is not alone.

“Every everybody I know is struggling. We're we're struggling just to we're so far below the poverty level, we can't even see it.” says Case.
For those feeling the same way, Cross Community Church is trying to help through educating adults.

“Our class teaches them things that they've not been taught before.” said President of Cross Community, Tina Patton “and we want to make sure that we can remove any excuses, remove any barriers to individuals becoming homeowners, remove any barriers to individuals becoming empowered again financially to be successful in life-not just them, but for generations to come”.

Local realtor John De Souza said the success of the market is impacting homeowners.

John De Souza- President of Cressy and Everett Real Estate "There's a challenge in the fact that our homes have appreciated in the area quite a bit over the years and we have continued to appreciate which is wonderful if you're a homeowner right because you've gained equity,” says John De Souza.

De Souza says a real estate agent can help you accurately price your house to sell, and they can help you buy smarter.
“One of the common myths that people have is that you have to bring 20% down payment. You know that that is an old tale.” says De Souza, “You don't really need that necessarily. If you can do that, that's great. But you don't have to bring that much money for a down payment."

Case says if she can sell her house, she plans to help her and her family members buy land and tiny homes.