AMI and Eligibility for CHT Homeownership
What is AMI?
You may have seen us talk about Area Median Income, or AMI in our program eligibility guidelines. But what does that mean?
Area Median Income (AMI) represents the middle income for a specific geographic area. It’s the point at which 50% of all households earn more, and 50% earn less.
Every year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) calculates AMI for every metro area and county in the United States. AMI is calculated from data collected by the Census Department in the American Community Survey. For the Chapel-Hill Carrboro community, HUD uses the broader Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Area, which includes Orange, Durham, and Chatham counties. The 2026 median family income for our area is calculated at $129,900.
AMI is then adjusted for household size, which is the total number of people living in a home. So a 4-person household has a higher AMI than a 1-person household in the same area.
Who is eligible for our program?
Most CHT homes are reserved for households earning no more than 80% of AMI for their household size. However, a smaller percentage of our homes are available to those earning up to 115% of AMI. The CHT homebuying program requires a minimum household income of $45,000, regardless of household size, to support the cost of the home.
Our program eligibility requirements are based on household size and household income. For example:
- An individual earning between $45,000 and $71,200 (80%) or up to $102,350 (115%) is eligible for the CHT home buying program.
- A household of two with an income between $45,000 and $81,400 (80%) or up to $117,013 (115%) is eligible for the CHT home buying program.
- A household of three with an income between $45,000 and $91,550 (80%) or up to $131,604 (115%) is eligible for the CHT home buying program.
- A household of four with a household income between $45,000 and $101,700 (80%) or up to $146,194 (115%) is eligible for the CHT home buying program.
* Income limits provided by HUD. Based on median family income (MFI) of $129,900. Updated on May 1, 2026.
You can view income limits for larger household sizes and all program eligibility guidelines here.
If you fit these guidelines and want to become a homeowner, please fill out our Readiness Form to get started.
Other things to note:
- Meeting eligibility requirements for our program does not guarantee you will purchase a home.
- Stable credit and finances are required to purchase a home. You must have sufficient credit to qualify for a mortgage (CHT does not check credit, but our mortgage lenders will consider this), manageable debt, and funds for closing costs (typically around $6,000-$10,000).
- Approved candidates in our program are matched to available homes based on household size and their household income.
