Affordable Homeownership That Lasts
At Hawthorn Housing Land Trust, families buy their home while the Land Trust keeps ownership of the land. This ensures the home stays affordable for future buyers. When a homeowner sells, a resale formula balances fair equity for the seller with long-term community affordability. Hawthorn Housing Land Trust is available to prospective homeowners to help identify and secure homes that can be purchased through the land trust, expanding access to stable and permanently affordable homeownership.
This approach lets families build stability and equity while protecting the neighborhood from displacement and speculation. Homes stay within reach for generations, and the community has a voice in how it grows.
How it works
In a Community Land Trust (CLT), homes are separated from the land they sit on. Entering a home to a CLT means placing the land under long-term community stewardship while allowing individuals or families to own and live in the home. Hawthorn Housing Land Trust uses this model to keep housing permanently affordable.
Hawthorn Housing Land Trust retains ownership of the land, while low- and moderate-income families purchase the home itself at an affordable price. When homeowners decide to sell, a resale restriction ensures the home remains affordable for future buyers. This is achieved through a formula that balances fair return for the seller with long-term affordability, preserving community stability and preventing displacement.
This model allows families to build equity and stability while ensuring that housing remains accessible for future generations. It combines the benefits of homeownership with community stewardship, protecting both residents and the neighborhood over time.
Key Features:
- Land Ownership by CLT: Community retains land to ensure long-term affordability.
- Resale Formula: Limits the sale price to maintain affordability while allowing modest equity gain for the seller.
- Community Control: Residents collectively have a voice in neighborhood development.
- Sustainable Housing: Prevents speculative sales and displacement.
- Intergenerational Benefit: Homes remain accessible to future low-income families.