BUSINESSWOMAN and director of fast food chain Juici Patties Edith Chin is contemplating expanding her business interests into Jamaica’s real estate market.

Last week she officially made her debut into the affordable housing sector with the handover of the Little But Tallawah Homes initiative, which involved constructing and donating a fully equipped, 20-foot container home aimed at mid-to-lower-income homebuyers.

The project was partially funded by Juici Patties and other private sector partners.

While Chin has not definitively confirmed her entry into the real estate market, she has hinted at the possibility of using the home as a prototype for a broader plan to commercialise container homes in Jamaica, offering a scalable and sustainable housing solution.

“Tallawah means strong, resilient, and powerful, reflecting the home’s strength despite its size,” Chin told the Jamaica Observer in explaining the business name. However, she declined to provide further details on the business plan and funding strategy, noting that discussions are still ongoing.

Still, Chin’s concept of Little But Tallawah Homes goes beyond mere construction.

The initiative integrates economic and environmental sustainability, featuring a rainwater harvesting system, a vegetable garden, and solar-powered energy systems. The house also has seven windows placed to maximise interior usable space while allowing for cross ventilation in the right areas. Additionally, the housing units allow for an infill development approach, meaning the homes can be placed in the backyards or other spaces within existing communities, to avoid new infrastructure costs associated with building completely new schemes.

Chin plans to market the homes based on their mobility, highlighting that they offer homeownership without the need for immediate land acquisition. This feature makes them an ideal option for families, especially in disaster-prone areas or where securing land is a challenge.

“The fact that it is a container home, designed such that it can be relocated, introduces a new layer of homeownership and tenure possibility as it enables families to own a home without the immediate burden of the cost of owning land. They can lease or be permitted to place their homes in unused space[s] in existing homes and properties already [fitted] with necessary infrastructure,” she said.

For now Chin, who also serves as custos of Clarendon, says she will continue to gauge public interest and stakeholder support before an official launch of the business. While no direct sales have been initiated, the Little But Tallawah Homes project has already captured significant attention, she noted.

Jamaica has an annual demand of approximately 20,000 housing units, with a significant portion of this demand concentrated in the low-to-middle-income price range. This segment of the market is primarily served by government agencies like National Housing Trust (NHT) and Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ).

For instance, NHT plans to commence the construction of 15,009 housing solutions targeted at low-to middle-income earners in the upcoming fiscal year. These housing solutions include one-bedroom units priced below $10 million and two-bedroom units priced below $13 million.

This substantial demand underscores the need for affordable and accessible housing options.