“There is a lot of inventory out there,” conceded Donna Lishen, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty. Lishen said her company’s foreclosure department is handling the Habitat houses because it also has experience with property management. Unlike most foreclosures, she said, the Habitat homes are new.

Although the houses were completed months ago, they have been listed with real estate agents only a short time. Lishen said Sunday-afternoon open houses, beginning Jan. 9, should increase interest.

The Rev. Anthony Thompson of Tabernacle of Faith Ministries, also in West Gulfport, said he is concerned more people have not moved into the houses. He said many people are unaware the subdivision exists because it can’t be seen from major roads. Also, he said, people often are unsure if they meet Habitat criteria.

Monforton said people often have misconceptions about who qualifies for Habitat Homes. Prospective buyers must earn 35 to 120 percent of the area median income and live in Harrison, Stone or Jackson counties, which are the areas served by the Mississippi Coast chapter.

In Harrison and Stone counties, 120 percent of area median income for a family of four is $63,000 a year; in Jackson County, it is $67,000 a year.

The price range for Connor’s Garden homes is $75,000 to $92,000, with eight floor plans available. Homes have two, three or four bedrooms. They are sold with all appliances, have a mix of carpeting and tile floors and wide doorways.

The houses have front and back porches, with separate storage units.

“They are very nice,” Lishen said. “These homes were not necessarily built by volunteers. They were built by the Habitat construction company.”

Habitat has spent a total of almost $4.3 million on the subdivision.

Leftover federal grant money will be used to fortify the homes against hurricane damage, which could help lower insurance costs.