Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program is down payment assistance for homebuyers in Lawrence, Kansas, administered by Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT).
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Must be first-time buyer or not have owned for 3 years per standard CLT policy.
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- On credit: Credit score of 670 or higher required. No bankruptcies in last 2 years. Good bill pay within last 2 years.
- A completed homebuyer education course, through TTH homebuyer workshop required. Budget and/or credit counseling from Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. (HCCI) required prior to purchase decision.
- Residency: Lawrence, KS / Douglas County area
- Community land trust model; restricted resale formula limits appreciation but enables homeownership. No homes currently listed as of June 2026 (sold properties shown on site). Buyers must attend TTH homebuyer workshop and receive HCCI counseling. Income limits updated annually. Homes owner-occupied; not available to investors or landlords.
- A home inside Lawrence city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Lawrence
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Income limit
80% of Douglas County’s area median income
HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.
Where it applies
Lawrence’s homesLawrence’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 46.1% single-familysingle-family
- 10% townhousetownhouse
- 10.2% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 32.2% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 1.6% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$292,700
Lawrence median home value
39.4%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Lawrence
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through TTH homebuyer workshop required. Budget and/or credit counseling from Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. (HCCI) required prior to purchase decision..
Contact Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT) to reserve funds
Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.
Work with a lender who handles the program
Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program is down payment assistance for homebuyers in Lawrence, Kansas, administered by Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT). The Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT), operated by Tenants to Homeowners, sells new and rehabilitated homes to income-eligible buyers at approximately $50,000-$75,000 below market appraisal value using a community land trust model. Buyers own the structure while LCHT retains land ownership under a $30/month ground lease. Benefits include minimal down payment (5% of gross income), closing cost assistance up to $4,000, no PMI, fixed-rate financing, and resale-price restrictions that preserve affordability in perpetuity. ~$75,000 average price subsidy below market. Down payment = 5% of annual gross income (often under $2,000). Closing cost assistance up to $4,000. No PMI. No foreclosures in program history. $25/month maintenance savings account. Funding comes from Federal, State, and other grant funding or donations.
How much assistance does it provide?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program offers up to $75,000 in assistance. Homebuyer contribution: Down payment = 5% of annual gross income (e.g., $31K income = under $2,000 down). Required maintenance savings account of $25/month. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT) determines any individual award.
Do you have to pay it back?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program is down payment assistance and is repaid under the terms set by Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT). Repayment is triggered by Resale restricted per CLT ground lease formula (25% of market appreciation returned to buyer; remainder supports future affordability). Land leased at $30/month. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Must be first-time buyer or not have owned for 3 years per standard CLT policy. On credit, the program states: Credit score of 670 or higher required. No bankruptcies in last 2 years. Good bill pay within last 2 years. A homebuyer education course is required, through TTH homebuyer workshop required. Budget and/or credit counseling from Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. (HCCI) required prior to purchase decision. Residency requirement: Lawrence, KS / Douglas County area. Community land trust model; restricted resale formula limits appreciation but enables homeownership. No homes currently listed as of June 2026 (sold properties shown on site). Buyers must attend TTH homebuyer workshop and receive HCCI counseling. Income limits updated annually. Homes owner-occupied; not available to investors or landlords.
What are the income limits?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. At or below 80% of Lawrence median family income per HUD guidelines. Updated May 2025: 1-person $77,300; 2-person $88,400; 3-person $99,400; 4-person $110,400; next update June 2026. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.
What kind of home can it be used for?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program caps the purchase price as follows: Homes sold at approximately $50,000-$75,000 below market appraisal value. Recent sold properties around $125,000. Eligible property types include Single Family. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Where does it apply?
Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Lawrence, Kansas. The program targets specific areas: Lawrence, Kansas and greater Douglas County.
How do you apply?
Applications for Lawrence Community Housing Trust (Tenants to Homeowners) Home Purchase Program go through Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for Lawrence homebuyersOther programs open to Lawrence homebuyers
- Lawrence Habitat for Humanity Homebuyer Program (Affordable Homeownership)First mortgage
- KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program (FTHB)Up to $40,000
- Homeownership Set-aside Program (HSP)Up to $15,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 71 programs for LawrenceProgram terms are set by Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH) / Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT) and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.