CHICAGO — A Chicago-based housing startup is reshaping the city’s affordability crisis by building entire homes in just eight weeks — and offering prices within reach of first-time buyers.
Inherent Homes, founded by architect Tim Swanson, is producing move-in-ready houses in a matter of weeks using pre-manufactured designs. By targeting vacant city lots — sometimes purchased for just $1 — the company drastically lowers construction costs and offers new homes at prices far below market rate.
“Finding ways to keep our costs down can meet more families where they’re at,” said Swanson, whose warehouse in Lawndale is the launchpad for this initiative.
A Fast-Track to Homeownership on the West Side
Dominque Ward, a single mother of two, recently moved into one of Inherent Homes’ new constructions in her longtime West Side neighborhood.
“I never wanted to leave the West Side,” Ward said. “I knew property was getting really expensive over here.”
With typical homes in the area topping $500,000, Ward paid just $275,000 — made possible by financial incentives like the city’s Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes Program, which helped her knock $100,000 off her mortgage.
How It Works: Homes in 8 Weeks
At Inherent’s manufacturing hub, six homes can be built simultaneously — indoors, protected from weather delays. The modular assembly allows them to go from raw material to interior framing in just 2–3 weeks, and then to full completion in 8 weeks total.
Each home includes:
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All appliances pre-installed
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High-quality finishes
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Materials bought in bulk to reduce costs
Swanson estimates it costs the company around $350,000 to $370,000 to build a home. Most are sold around $395,000 unsubsidized, though city grants often reduce buyer costs significantly.
From Vacant Lots to Thriving Neighborhoods
Inherent Homes specifically targets unused lots throughout the city to revitalize neighborhoods while making homeownership achievable. Their strategy also helps get properties back on the tax roll.
“I was able to show my girls that anything is possible,” Ward said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
Swanson said he hopes more builders adopt similar models — and even joked that it takes “a level of insanity” to push through the red tape. Still, he’s open to sharing what he calls his “secret sauce” to help expand affordable housing across Chicago.
Do you live in a Chicago neighborhood with unused land or housing needs? Let us know what kind of development you’d like to see at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
