Community Home Trust

Founded in 1991, Community Home Trust (formerly Orange Community Housing and Land Trust) is a nonprofit organization that partners with local governments, developers and community members, to sell and preserve affordable homes for low to moderate income families who live or work in Orange County, NC. The Home Trust began focusing on permanently affordable homes in 1999, and sold the first Home Trust home in June 2000. Today, there are more than 190 Home Trust homes scattered throughout Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Our homeowners include nurses, university employees, teachers and others. They are first time homebuyers who typically earn less than 80% of the area median income, about $43,400 for a household of two. The Home Trust is part of the National Community Land Trust Network.

Permanent Affordability
Through our homeownership program, homes are guaranteed to accrue limited (1.5%) appreciation each year, preserving affordability for future generations while allowing current homeowners to build equity. While the Home Trust retains title to each property, ownership is conveyed using a 99-year ground lease. This lease is renewable. Home Trust homeowners can bequeath their home to their heirs and have almost all the privileges of homeownership with two notable exceptions: the homes must be the primary residence and owners must resell their home to a buyer who qualifies for homeownership through the Home Trust.

Inclusionary Housing
Most Home Trust homes are built by private sector developers who are required to provide a percentage of affordable homes in their developments.  These condos, townhomes and single family houses are sold to the Home Trust at prices that are affordable to our buyers. These homes are conveyed to low and moderate income households at prices far below market value.

Therefore, our homeowners live in quality homes in desirable neighborhoods. Our homes typically sell for between $90,000 and $150,000 or 30% to 50% below the market value.

As a result of these inclusionary housing policies, Community Home Trust is the primary provider of affordable housing in Orange County. Although housing prices in Chapel Hill and Carrboro remain high, these policies enable low-income households to be integrated into market-rate neighborhoods. Home Trust homeowners live close to where they work and their children attend the best school systems in the state.

The Home Trust allows those who serve our community to live in our community. Our homeowners teach our children, take care of our sick, police our roads, conduct lifesaving research, serve our vulnerable populations, drive our buses, and volunteer in our towns.