SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fashion design and photography are two things Dev Anglin has immersed himself in, and he’s also passionate about becoming a first-time homeowner.

But in the current economic climate, he said it can feel like you have to be a creative of astronomical proportions to even think it’s possible.

“I do feel like it is challenging because the prices are high. The options are limited, you know. It’s a little scarce, so it’s definitely a challenge,” Anglin said.

He’s been working to find new ways to get into the housing market, such as attending workshops put on by the City of Sacramento.

Matt Hertel, who works with the city in their housing division and has himself experienced living in tiny apartments because of income restraints, said the city wants more of what they call “missing middle housing.” Middle housing includes duplexes, triplexes, etc., and the city has been working to educate people on these options because they believe these are low-cost options that aren’t widely available.

“They’re more affordable because they’re built into existing land and homes. They are smaller in nature. And therefore, the rents and sales prices are less,” Hertel said.

Hertel said the housing recession back in 2008 has had lasting effects, with new homes being built at a very slow pace, so the houses that are out there are expensive and usually either apartments or single-family homes.

The city has earmarked the goal of having 45,000 homes built in the next eight years.

Another part of the “missing middle housing” initiative is accessory dwelling units, commonly known as granny flats. The state, starting next year, is making free pre-approved plans available to the public, meaning they can be built much faster.

“You can do that on land that’s already owned. They’re smaller, cheaper to build, they’re easy to build under building code,” Matt said.

Anglin said it helps to see and hear what’s being done to get the creative juices flowing.

“If individuals in the city have real estate entrepreneur dreams of, ‘Hey I want to own a multi-family unit to one, earn money for myself, maybe even start a business, but also, house family or friends.'"

Anglin believes the more the city can create incentives, the better the prospects for first-time home buyers.