Litchfield County Affordable Homeownership Program

Overview

The Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity (LCCHO) is coordinating a new program to build 10 new scattered site affordable homes in 5 towns. The 10 single-family homes will be sold at prices that will be affordable to households below the area median income. This program is called the Litchfield County Affordable Homeownership Program and is being funded through the Connecticut Department of Housing as well as town and non-profit contributions. Program facilitation and construction loans are being provided through Capital for Change.

The following local housing non-profits will continue to own the land under these homes and will ensure their continued affordability over time.

• The Salisbury Housing Trust built 4 homes in Salisbury, CT.
• The Cornwall Housing Corporation built 4 homes in Cornwall, CT.
• The Foundation for Norfolk Living built 1 home in Norfolk, CT.
• The Washington Community Housing Trust built 1 home in Washington, CT.

Who is eligible

To qualify, your total gross annual household income must be at or below 100% of the Litchfield County Area Median Income (AMI).

Applicants must be first-time homebuyers - that is defined as an individual or household of which no household member has had an ownership interest in a principal residence at any time during the past three (3) years. Please also note that all selected purchasers must occupy the affordable home as their primary residence. As these are all 3-bedroom homes, there will be a preference for households with three or more people. Finally, we are requiring that applicants pre-qualify for a mortgage of at least $200,000. This pre-qualification does not have to be from the bank that you ultimately intend to borrow from, but you must show that you are able to qualify for a mortgage, based on your current household income.

We are also strongly encouraging applicants to conduct the Housing Development Fund (HDF) Pre-purchase Homebuyer Counseling. This is a FREE service in which a homeownership advisor will assess your ability to acquire a mortgage and review your eligibility for loan and downpayment assistance in Connecticut. Visit the HDF webpage and learn more. 

homes for sale

The homes are newly constructed three-bedroom Cape-style homes They will be sold to income eligible buyers for between $250,000 and $330,000 including a forgivable downpayment assistance loan of approximately $25,000. This is a shared equity homeownership model where the homebuyers will purchase the house that sits on land owned by the local housing non-profit. The homeowners lease the land from the local housing non-profit in a long-term lease. The homeowners agree in the lease that when they want to sell the home they will sell it at a price to keep it affordable to households at or below 100% of the area median income.