Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are nonprofit organizations rooted in the community, created to protect and manage land for the benefit of local residents.
While CLTs can support various kinds of development, their primary mission is to maintain lasting housing affordability. To achieve this, the trust purchases and retains ownership of the land indefinitely. Instead of selling the land outright, the trust provides homeowners with a long-term, renewable ground lease.
When a homeowner decides to sell, they receive a share of any appreciation in the home’s value, while the remaining value stays with the trust. This structure ensures that the home remains affordable for future families with low to moderate incomes.
Typically, CLT leases run for 99 years, though terms and the share of equity retained by homeowners can vary. By separating land ownership from home ownership, community land trusts stabilize housing costs and protect against market pressures—ensuring that affordable housing remains available for generations to come.
Your generous contribution to the El Dorado County Community Land Bank, managed through the El Dorado Community Foundation, directly supports Housing El Dorado’s mission to purchase land and develop homes for low-income individuals and families.
These homes will be offered under a renewable, inheritable 99-year ground lease, which includes requirements for occupancy and upkeep, as well as resale restrictions that cap the sale price based on changes in the area’s median income—ensuring lasting affordability.
The ground lease also grants Housing El Dorado the right to repurchase the property at resale or intervene to prevent foreclosure, protecting both the homeowner and the community’s investment.
The Land Trust of El Dorado County nor the El Dorado County Land Bank currently rent property.