Kansas Realtor Takes On the Housing Crisis by Building Affordable Homes on Vacant Lots Herself

The Sunflower State has a housing problem—and one real estate agent is doing her part to fix it, though not in the way you might expect. 

Realtor® Fran Sutton, 52, was born and raised in Kansas City, KS. She's been a real estate agent in the area for 21 years, and shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, she began to notice a disturbing but not altogether unusual trend.

"In the last several years, I’ve noticed there are buyers that are continuously beat out of the housing market," she told Realtor.com® in an interview. "They have jobs, they have down payments, and they are pre-qualified, but there is nothing in our inventory that they can afford to purchase."

While Sutton saw the problem growing in her area, the affordable housing shortage also affected her own family in 2024.

"My own daughter had to move an hour away to find a house she could afford, which was extremely sad for me," says Sutton.

That's when Sutton was compelled to take action.

Becoming a builder

Kansas earned a C on the Realtor.com State-by-State Housing Report Card, part of the Let America Build campaign, which measures how well states balance affordability and new construction. Much of this grade has to do with pricing. The state’s new-construction premium, or the price difference between new and existing homes, is a staggering 105.9%, suggesting that new homes are listed at a much higher price range than resale listings.

Hoping to get more affordable homes in the areas that need it most, Sutton got to work. She started by acquiring two vacant lots from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, which has more than 4,300 vacant and abandoned lots in its Land Bank.

Over the past five years, the Kansas City government has implemented programs to attract developers to restore vacant properties through discounted land deals and fee waivers and incentives.

Sutton paid only an administrative fee for each lot, which was just a few hundred dollars.

But even though she had the land and the drive, she wasn't sure she had the skills to build a house on her own.

"I called one of my mentors, who had been telling me for a long time that he wanted me to be a developer," recalls Sutton. "I told him I was skeptical I could do it, since I was undereducated, underqualified, and underfunded. But he told me three words that changed everything: 'Yes, you can.'"

She then called another mentor, who was a builder himself, and he agreed to show her the ropes—or "How to Build a House 101," as Sutton calls it.

"Without these two amazing men, none of this would have been possible," she says.

Determined to make a difference

Armed with their advice and a number of years of remodeling and rehab experience, Sutton hit the ground running.

"I rolled my sleeves up and figured it out," she says. "Before long, I was putting up mirrors, hanging house numbers, filling dumpsters, and installing faucets."

Sutton has now built five houses from the ground up, and has three more under construction, ranging in price from $243,000 to $268,000.

She's aiming to build 25 modular homes, starting at $160,000, along the Quindaro path of the Underground Railroad by mid-2026.

"They are more affordable and efficient, and they can be built in four weeks versus four months," explains Sutton.

When it comes to construction, Sutton says she's committed to cutting costs but not quality.

For instance, each of her homes has a full basement, garage, and hardwood floors.

She’s also turned the venture into a family business. She oversees the homes being built, and her daughter, Elizabeth Reynolds, is the listing agent on all of their properties.

"I want to create quality, attainable workforce housing," she says. "I want to put hope back into homes."

An incredible impact

For Sutton, purpose is more important than profits.

"I do not earn on these houses what a lot of builders earn on their new construction," she says. "I want to serve my community by building many homes, and I'm here for the marathon, not the sprint."

Sutton says creating affordable housing in her hometown has been extremely rewarding.

"When you think about the impact that one woman can have on an entire community, it's breathtaking," she says. "Me and my daughter are impacting our community for generations. We are creating homes for people who have not been able to previously achieve homeownership."

City officials have taken notice.

"Fran Sutton has been an incredible partner in revitalizing our neighborhoods," says Jud Knapp, Land Bank manager for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. "Through the Land Bank program, she’s helped turn vacant lots into beautiful homes for families in Kansas City, KS. Her dedication and follow-through have made a real difference in our community."

Sutton has a strong desire to mentor others who want to follow in her footsteps.

"I want people to know it is possible to build affordable housing," she says. "If I can help someone else impact their community in a positive way, I will do it."