Community Land Trusts utilize many different housing arrangements in what they do, including co-ops, co-housing, and tenants-in-common. CLAM helps community members create homes by offering resources and support on a case-by-case basis. We assisted two families, for example, to own homes through a tenants-in-common arrangement.
In West Marin, Tenants-in-Common homeownership and Shared Equity Ownership are two ways to share the high cost of homeownership. Here are sample agreements for these arrangements:
• Tenants-in-Common
• Shared Equity
Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives, or LEHCs, are affordable housing owned jointly by the residents. Each individual or family purchases a share in the nonprofit corporation that owns the property and has the right to occupy an individual unit. Each household builds a small amount of equity on their share, usually tied to inflation, but by law, no more than 10% per year. Because the increase in equity is limited, the buy-in cost and monthly payments remain well below market rates. This makes home ownership available for lower-income individuals and families who otherwise could never afford to buy homes.
More information:
Coop Network
Bay Area Community Land Trust
Cohousing Communities are intentional, collaborative neighborhoods created with a little ingenuity. They bring together the value of private homes with the benefits of more sustainable living. That means residents actively participate in the design and operation of their neighborhoods, and share common facilities and good connections with neighbors. All in all, they stand as innovative and sustainable answers to today’s environmental and social problems.
More information: http://cohousing.org
HOUSING RESOURCES
County of Marin Site for Affordable Housing
Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California Affordable Housing 101
Finding Affordable Housing
EAH Resources & FAQs