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Purchasing an affordable home through Community Home Trust isn’t about who’s first in line, it’s about finding the home that’s the best fit for each household.

At CHT, every home in our affordable homeownership program has unique characteristics and eligibility requirements. One way to think about it is like putting together a puzzle: each home is one puzzle piece, and each household is another. Our goal is to match the right household with the right home, so the pieces fit together.

Matching Homes to Household Size

One of the most important factors we consider is household size. We want every home to meet the needs of the people who will live there; not too small, and not larger than necessary.

General household size guidelines include:

• Household of 1: Eligible for a 1-bedroom home
• Household of 2: Eligible for a 1- or 2-bedroom home
• Household of 3: Eligible for a 2- or 3-bedroom home
• Household of 4 or more: Eligible for a 2-, 3-, or 4-bedroom home

Larger households are matched with appropriately sized homes as inventory allows. The guidelines listed above are examples; other matches may be made depending on individual circumstances.

We also consider each household’s makeup during the matching process to help ensure the home is a good fit for the family’s needs.

Matching Homes for Affordability

Affordability is just as important as household size.

A key principle of affordable housing is that households should spend no more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing costs. This helps ensure homeowners have enough income remaining for other essential expenses.

When evaluating a home, we calculate the estimated total monthly housing cost, including:

• Mortgage payment
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• HOA dues (if applicable)
• Other required housing costs

For example:

If a household earns $5,500 per month: 30% of $5,500 is $1,650. That means the household should aim to keep total monthly housing costs at or below $1,650.

How Matching Works: Example CHT Homes

A recently available 1-bedroom condo with estimated monthly housing costs of $1,089.

• Households of 1-2 people would be eligible.
• Considered affordable for a household earning at least $3,630 per month.

A recently available 2-bedroom townhome with estimated monthly housing costs of $1,239.

• Households of 2–4 people would be eligible.
• Considered affordable for a household earning at least $4,130 per month.

A recently available 3-bedroom home with estimated monthly housing costs of $1,832.

• Household of 3–5+ people would be eligible.
• Would be considered affordable for a household earning at least $6,107 per month.

These examples show how both household size and affordability work together to determine the best match for each available home.

Why We Match Homes This Way

The CHT homeownership program is designed to help households purchase homes that meet both their current needs and their financial circumstances.

By considering household size, family composition, and affordable monthly housing costs, we can make thoughtful matches that support long-term housing stability and make the best use of our affordable home inventory.

Because every home and every household are unique, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s exactly why our matching process is so important.

Ready to buy your own affordable home with CHT? Fill out our Readiness Form to get started.