How do I know if I’m eligible?

  • Homebuyer(s) must be a citizen of the USA or a registered alien. 

  • Homebuyer(s) must be 18 or older to qualify for a mortgage.

  • Homebuyer(s) have not owned a principal residence in the past twelve months; or be a single parent who may have owned a home with a former spouse in the past twelve months but no longer resides there.

  • Household must have an annual income which does not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the Area Median Income (AMI) of households of equal size in Wake County, or the area where the home is located. Please refer to the HUD income limits (HUD Income Limits). 

  • Household’s monthly income, when multiplied by the appropriate debt-to-income ratio, must be sufficient to support the housing costs for the housing opportunity in question.

  • Prospective homebuyers with an annual income less than 40% of the Area Median Income or those who require a co-signer in order to obtain a mortgage typically do not have sufficient income for our homeownership opportunities. 

  • Household must be able to demonstrate a sense of ownership of its financial obligations, and a history of responsible effort to meet them. The mortgage underwriting guidelines of the lending programs available to RALT homebuyers shall determine the credit risk and overall creditworthiness of the applicant. 

  • Household’s financial resources and circumstances should clearly indicate a limited ability to compete successfully in the conventional housing market. 

  • Homebuyer(s) must cover closing costs ranging from $5,000 to $8,000 There is a minimum 1% of purchase price contribution requirement towards the downpayment and/or closing costs from buyers own funds. The rest of the closing costs can come from gifts, down payment assistance and other grants, loans, or other sources.

  • Household must complete a 1-hour financial counseling session through DHIC Homeownership Center to determine homeownership readiness and eligibility for down payment assistance.

Steps to purchasing a home through Raleigh Area Land Trust

  1. Review the Shared Equity Homeownership model to ensure it is a fit for you

  2. Complete Qualifying & Eligibility Questionnaire to determine eligibility and receive access to full application

  3. Attend a Homebuyer Info Session

  4. Complete 1-hour Financial Counseling Session provided by DHIC Homeownership Center to understand your readiness for homeownership

  5. Complete Full RALT Affordable Homeownership Application, if eligible

  6. Complete RALT’s 1-Hour CLT Program Orientation

  7. Complete DHIC Homeownership Center’s 8-hour First-Time Homebuyer Education Workshop or other DHIC-approved class

  8. Approved for RALT Waitlist 

Waitlist

Currently, there is a waitlist to purchase a home through RALT. Our waitlist is not set in any specific order and instead potential homebuyers are matched depending on the size of the home, preferred areas, AMI limitations set by grants, readiness and ability to afford the set purchase price.

Members of the RALT waitlist are the first to know when homes become available. The time on the waitlist varies by family, needs, and available housing stock. We will work with each applicant during their orientation to set a realistic timeline for homeownership through RALT.