Harris County CLT

What is CLT?

A community land trust (CLT) is a community-based organization that provides lasting community assets and shared equity homeownership opportunities for families and communities. CLTs are established to serve as the long-term stewards of land and to protect long-term affordability and access to housing and other community uses located on that land. There are nearly 300 community land trusts currently in operation in the US.

A community land trust buys or receives donated land, builds homes (or acquires and rehabilitates existing homes), and makes these homes available for sale to limited-income homebuyers, writing down the purchase price to an affordable level by using public and/or private subsidies. CLTs are governed by a board of CLT residents, community residents, and public representatives – in Harris County’s case, the Harris County Community Land Trust Management Corporation, a subsidiary of the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation.

HCCLT Management Corporation

The Harris County Community Land Trust Management Corporation was formed in January 2021 as an entity under the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation. The HCCLT Management Corporation handles the day-to-day operations of the Harris County CLT.

The goals of the Harris County Community Land Trust are:

• Providing decent, safe, affordable homeownership options to low-income homebuyers;
• Ensuring housing stays affordable for future low-income community residents.

If your financial situation makes typical homeownership unattainable, the CLT may be right for you. A community land trust buys or receives donated houses and makes them available for sale to limited-income homebuyers while leasing them the land. Here’s how it works:

• A family or individual purchases a house that sits on land owned by the community land trust.
• The homeowners lease the land from the CLT in a 99-year lease that is inheritable and renewable.
• The purchase price is more affordable because the homeowner is only buying the house, not the land.
• The lease gives the homeowner the exclusive right to occupy and use the land, just like traditional homeowners do.
• If they wish to sell later, the homeowners agree to sell the home at a restricted price (while still earning equity) to keep it affordable in perpetuity, making the benefits of CLT homeownership available to another household who needs this same opportunity.
• CLTs play an active and ongoing role in assisting and supporting homeowners in their efforts to remain successful as homeowners as long as they own the property.

How to Apply

• Fill out the pre-application so a CLT representative can reach out with information.
• Attend a required HCCLT orientation session.
• To complete the Homebuyer Driven Application, please click here: CSD HCCLT Pre Application
• To complete the Single Family Acquisitions Application, please click here: CSD CLT Single Family Acquisitions Pre Application
• Don’t hesitate to reach out to HCCLT staff if you need help filling out your application.
• Attend a homebuyer counseling session with a HUD-approved counseling agency.
• Meet with an approved lender and get pre-qualified to make sure you will be able to access mortgage financing. The mortgage underwriting guidelines of the lending programs available to you will be the deciding factors regarding your credit risk and overall creditworthiness as an applicant.
• HCCLT staff and the board of directors will approve or deny your application. If denied, you will be placed on a waiting list and HCCLT staff may provide you with tips on how to become a better-qualified applicant.
• If approved, the home acquired will depend on the application you completed.
  **(If approved for the HCCLT Program, start looking for a home with the help of a CLT-partnered realtor.)
  **(If approved for the ARPA Single Family Acquisitions program, you will be partnered with a CLT / ARPA Staff member to support and assist in matching you with one of our homes available in the portfolio.)
• Sign a purchase and sale agreement with the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation.
• Apply for your mortgage with your approved lender.
• Schedule a meeting with the HCCLT for a detailed review of the HCCLT Lease and other legal documents.
• Close on your new home and move in!

If you have any questions, please email info-harriscountyCLT@csd.hctx.net. Thank you!

Our Board of Directors 

The Harris County Housing Finance Corporation (HCHFC) is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors appointed by the Harris County Commissioners Court. The Board guides the day-to-day operations of HCHFC and are non-salaried positions.