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Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program

Piedmont Community Land Trust · Charlottesville, Virginia

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Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

What is Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program is down payment assistance for homebuyers in Charlottesville, Virginia, administered by Piedmont Community Land Trust.

  • Piedmont Community Land Trust provides permanently affordable homeownership using a community land trust model: PCLT retains ownership of the land and the buyer purchases the home structure at a below-market price under a 99-year renewable ground lease. A resale formula preserves affordability. The program is explicitly stackable with Piedmont Housing Alliance ACHAP and DHCD HOME down payment assistance.
  • Below-market purchase price.
  • 99-year renewable ground lease.
  • Stackable with ACHAP and DHCD HOME DPA.
  • Permanent affordability.

Do you have to pay it back?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program is down payment assistance and is repaid under the terms set by Piedmont Community Land Trust.

  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • A completed homebuyer education course
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-13): pending review. Must sign a 99-year ground lease at closing and use a PCLT-approved lender able to underwrite leasehold mortgages. Resale is restricted per the ground lease formula (not market-rate). Must attend PCLT orientation. Active development: Victorian Heights (Albemarle County). Distinct from Piedmont Housing Alliance DPA and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville already in catalog.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • At or below 80% AMI; 2026 Charlottesville MSA 4-person limit $106,800. Lower limits apply in Louisa County.
  • 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?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program can be used for Single Family, Townhouse, and Condo.

Where does it apply?

Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program serves buyers purchasing in Charlottesville, Virginia.

How do you apply?

Applications for Piedmont Community Land Trust Homeownership Program go through Piedmont Community Land Trust, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program before funds are reserved.

  2. Contact Piedmont Community Land Trust to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.

  3. 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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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