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Community Land Trust

What is a Community Land Trust (CLT)?

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Benefits to You

  • You can afford a quality home that would be too expensive normally.
  • Having a support network if a financial hardship hits your family.
  • Removes homeownership barriers through down payment assistance.
  • Direct access to trusted contractors and minor home repair loans.
  • No more landlords: You are the homeowner.
  • Pass the affordability on or keep it in the family; your children can inherit the house.
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Benefits for the Community

  • Generation after generation of home buyers are able to afford homes otherwise outside of their reach.
  • CLT’s stabilize communities by helping renters become educated and well resourced homeowners.
  • CLT’s promote healthy mixed income and diverse neighborhoods.
  • Affordable housing allows people of all incomes to live close to where they work.
  • Stable affordable housing is a key determinant to a family’s ability to thrive.
  • Wealth building opportunities like CLTs allow families to end generational poverty.

How it Works

CLT Website Graphic Part 1
The graphic shows two examples of families buying CLT homes. At the top right of the image are the Martinez family, represented by cartoon drawings of a man with light brown skin and a woman with dark brown skin. Next to the cartoon of the Martinez family is text saying that the market price of the home the Martinez family wants to buy is $200,000. Below that, it says the amount of CLT Assistance, which is based on income, for the Martinez family is $40,000. The final cost of the home for the Martinez family is $160,000 because their $40,000 in assistance was subtracted from the $200,000 market price of the home. That's the first example of a family buying a CLT home. Below the first example, it says that other down payment assistance may be available to homeowners. Then the second example starts. On the left is another cartoon drawing of the Wright family, shown as a man with white skin and a woman with light brown skin. The graphic says that the Wright family is buying the same home 10 years after the Martinez family bought it. To the right of the drawing of the Wright family, there is text stating that when the Martinez family sells their home to the Wright family, the home's market value is now $250,000. Below that, it says that the house's value increased by $50,000 over the 10 years that the Martinez family owned it. Text below that states that the Martinez family will walk away with $47,500 in profit from the sale. Part of the increase in value of the home was not passed on to the Martinez family in order to help keep it affordable for the Wright family.

Steps to Buying with the CLT

 

Buying home through Build WyCo's CLT is a little bit different from the normal homebuying process. We'll work together with you and your realtor every step of the way to help you make the right decision for you and your family.

One
One

Step 1

Tour a Build WyCo home, and ask your realtor to contact us.

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Two

Step 2

Sign preliminary purchase contract, and verify your income to determine the amount of CLT assistance you can access.

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Three

Step 3

Meet with a housing counselor to get fully informed on the CLT process. Bring documents to verify your income and find out what other resources you can access. Decide whether to move forward or not.

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Four

Step 4

Get pre-approved by a CLT Lender.

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Five

Step 5

Take Build WyCo's Homeownership class in person or online.

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Six

Step 6

Based on your qualification, we will apply for any financial resources available for you. We will need several pieces of documentation.

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Seven

Step 7

Do a final walk through of the home and learn basic maintenance and problem-solving.

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Eight

Step 8

Walk step by step through the ground lease agreement with your housing counselor.

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Nine

Step 9

Sign sales contract and ground lease.

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Ten

Step 10

Move in!

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Eleven

Step 11

Stay connected! We have many resources to support you on your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long do I have to live in my CLT home before I can resell it?

No, you can resell at any time. Just contact us to start the sales process.

How do I know how much I can resell my house for?

Your home’s sale price will be determined by a resale formula provided to you before you purchase the home. Build WyCo will update you on the sales price on a yearly basis, or as requested.

What maintenance am I responsible for in a CLT home?

CLT Homeownership is like all other homeownership in that you will be responsible for all maintenance, including underground utility lines. Low interest loans and utility line insurance are very affordable ways to help maintain and protect your home.

What if I have an issue paying my monthly mortgage or ground lease fee?

Ground lease fees are $25 per month. Contact Build WyCo to see how you can be helped and if financial assistance is available.

What is my first step to purchasing a CLT Home?

Your first step will be to sign up for an appointment with a Build WyCo housing counselor! Call 913.342.7580 and dial 9 to speak to a member of our team.

How much money will I get if I sell my CLT Home?

Like any other home sale, you will get the amount of equity you have from paying off your home’s mortgage over time. Unlike other home sales, you will get only a percentage of the home’s increase in value. This percentage is predetermined by your home’s resale formula.

What if I want to make improvements to my house? Will I recapture that expense at resale?

We encourage further investment in your home and will work with you to get quality improvements done and are able to recapture your investment at resale.