Purchasing a Housing Easement Home

Owning a home in the Housing Easements program is nearly identical to ‘market homeownership.’ The only difference is that the owner must adhere to the short list of occupancy and use restrictions, and recertify this adherence on an annual basis.

The home must be occupied by a full-time resident.
No nightly rentals are permitted.
The home can be rented, but not for a profit.
MHT retains the right of first opportunity to buy the home for Fair Market Value.

What Homeowners Can and Can’t Do

Full Ownership and Freedom:
Homeowners in this program fully own their homes and the land and are free to make capital improvements or use their property as they choose. There are no additional rules or restrictions on how they live in or upgrade the home.
Who Benefits from Improvements:
Any increase in the home’s value that comes from the owner's renovations or improvements goes entirely to the homeowner—not to Methow Housing Trust.
- MHT’s “Community Retained Equity” share only grows based on general housing market trends, not based on what the homeowner does to improve the home.

When It’s Time to Sell

When the homeowner decides to sell, Methow Housing Trust has the first option to buy the home at its Fair Market Value,
- MHT can also assign the purchase to a qualified local buyer, helping ensure the home stays affordable and occupied by a full-time resident.