The nonprofit developer Avesta Housing is purchasing vacant homes in disrepair, renovating them and then selling them at below-market rates as part of a new pilot initiative.

More than 80 people have applied so far to purchase one of the first two completed homes; Avesta celebrated the completion of the two homes at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Gray last week.

Both are one-story single family homes located next to each other on Collyer Brook Road in Gray. And both are being sold $218,000, less than half the median sales price for a home in Cumberland County.

To remodel them, a team from Avesta replaced the roof on one of the homes, repaved a shared driveway, installed new kitchen appliances and countertops and remediated water issues in both basements.