As prices in the nation’s capital have soared, some sellers want their homes to stay in reach of families like their own. The Douglass Community Land Trust is helping them make it happen.
In Washington, D.C., where home prices have soared, the Douglass Community Land Trust has launched a unique program called Pay It Forward. Instead of selling solely for profit, homeowners can sell their homes into the land trust at below-market prices, ensuring affordability for the next buyer while still earning equity for themselves.
The Dixons, the first family to participate, sold their home for $570,000 — well under its $790,000 appraised value — to make sure families like theirs could continue to buy in the city. Other sellers are following, motivated by a desire to fight displacement, preserve affordability, and “pay it forward.”
By combining the benefits of equity with the commitment to community, this model creates a new way to stabilize neighborhoods, preserve affordability, and empower homeowners to leave a legacy of accessibility.
Read the full story: Turning Equity into Affordability: D.C. Homeowners Are Giving Back to a Next Wave of Buyers
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