Frequently Asked Questions

About Proud Ground

  • Proud Ground is a nonprofit organization that uses the Community Land Trust model to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for people who work and live in our community.


    Watch our video to learn more!

  • Proud Ground makes homeownership affordable to income-qualified, first-time homebuyers through the Community Land Trust model. Working with our partners, we educate and counsel homebuyers and administer grant funding to create affordable homebuying opportunities. Once a homeowner purchases with Proud Ground, we provide post-purchase support to ensure the homeowner’s long-term stability in the home. Proud Ground maintains the permanent affordability of all the homes in our six-county portfolio of Clackamas, Clark, Jackson, Lincoln, Multnomah, and Washington Counties.

  • Amid unaffordable prices, our approach focuses on maintaining home affordability. Homes purchased through Proud Ground stay affordable through resales, for future generations, countering neighborhood displacement. Monthly payments on a Proud Ground home are often less than a family was paying in rent.

  • In exchange for a reasonable purchase price (about 20-50% LESS than a market-rate home), homeowners agree to resale arrangements that provide a seller with a share of the home's equity while ensuring the home remains affordable for another low to moderate-income homebuyer.

    This arrangement is guaranteed through a legal agreement between Proud Ground and the homeowner. Homebuyers review these legal agreements with an attorney independent of Proud Ground to understand all the details before buying a home.

About Buying and Selling Proud Ground Homes

  • First-time homebuyers who are income-qualified with steady incomes and access to credit but are not able to purchase a home the traditional way in today’s pricey market.

    See qualifications for details.

  • Proud Ground homebuyers and grant recipients are often required to commit a certain number of hours of maintenance work on their home after they’ve purchased it. Work can be done by the homeowner, their family, and friends.

    Have you completed your volunteer hours? Are you ready for us to take photos to document the work? Please contact Tyrone Brown.

  • Proud Ground’s resale formula outlined in our legal agreement with our homeowners dictates the maximum amount a homeowner can get when they sell their home. The resale formula gives the homeowner a fair return on their investment, while still allowing the home to remain affordable to another eligible homebuyer. The resale formula grants sellers a portion of appreciation, what has been paid off of their mortgage principal, and their own personal down payment.

    We estimate that homeowners who have owned a Proud Ground home for more than 10 years will earn, on average, $108,500 in equity at resale.

  • Represent Proud Ground homebuyers.

    Participate in Proud Ground’s Realtor referral program.

    For more information, contact Undra Adams.

General Proud Ground Homeownership Questions

    • You own your house.

    • You have a mortgage with a bank.

    • You accumulate equity.

    • You enjoy the tax benefits of homeownership.

    • You pay property taxes, though they may be less.

    • You are free to remodel and improve your home and yard.

    • Your home can be inherited.

  • The purchase price is much lower—usually about 20-50% less than a market-rate home.

    In exchange for an affordable purchase price, if you sell your home, you agree to sell at an affordable price to the next eligible homebuyer.

  • Proud Ground homeowners pay property taxes. However, given the unique agreement between Proud Ground and the homeowner, the property is often taxed at a reduced rate. In Oregon homeowners pay taxes on the house only, not the land and in Washington State homeowners pay reduced property taxes based on the affordable price the home could be sold for. As with all homeowners, the property taxes and the interest portion of the mortgage payment may be tax deductible on state and federal income taxes.

  • Many Proud Ground homeowners have successfully refinanced their home mortgages to take advantage of lower interest rates and/or extended terms. In addition, Proud Ground homeowners have taken out loans to do critical home repairs. Remember, with any new loan taken out on the home you will need to work with a Proud Ground approved lender and get Proud Ground’s approval. Please review and complete the Post Purchase Loan Packet.

    Completed packets can be submitted by emailing homeowners@proudground.org.

  • Congratulations! You should change your address with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Voter Register Department, the U.S. Postal Service, and any other US or State agencies that provide you with benefits. You should also update your address with companies with which you have accounts (like banks, insurance, online stores, etc.).

    Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
    Oregon
    Washington

    Voter Registration Change of Address
    Oregon
    Washington

    U.S. Postal Service Change of Address
    All States

  • Proud Ground is always looking for homeowners to volunteer their time to share information about our program. Some examples of events we need your help with include tabling events, flyering, and public speaking. Interested homeowners will go through a brief orientation before volunteering at an event.

    If you are interested in volunteering, contact us.

  • Each year, we host an annual homeowner appreciation picnic, where Proud Ground homeowners and staff have a casual get-together at Proud Ground.

  • As a homeowner in our program, you are now a voting member of Proud Ground. This means that, at times, Proud Ground will request your vote on an issue that is important to our program.

    We value your opinion and encourage you to vote! Please keep your contact information with us current and you will receive notices of membership votes by email and mail.

  • Yes!

    Proud Ground’s board is comprised of homeowners, partners, and representatives from each county we serve. As a homeowner in our program, you now have an opportunity to be on our Board of Directors! Proud Ground accepts applications on a rolling basis, with candidates reviewed each Fall for a January 1 start of service.

    If you are interested in serving as a board member, complete this application and send it to info@proudground.org or call 971-373-7529 for more information.

Home Maintenance and Upgrade Questions

  • Please refer to the Homeowner Request Portal.

  • Great question! There are many benefits to planting trees around your house. Yard trees can…

    • Slow climate change

    • Mitigate storm-water flow

    • Improve public health by improving air and water quality

    • Provide habitat for wildlife

    • Improve the local food supply

    • Increase the livability of neighborhoods by calming traffic and reducing noise and glare

    • Improve property values

    We highly recommend Friends of Trees for help planting trees in your yard. Friends of Trees charges between $25-75 for the tree, city permit, utility location service, hole digging, planting assistance, mulching, stakes, and first-year inspections. This is a value of over $200!

    To learn more about planting a tree with Friends of Trees visit their website.

  • There are resources available to help you. Please refer to the Homeowner Resources page to learn about repair workshops and tool libraries in your area.

  • Proud Ground has an established partnership with Solar for All, Spark Northwest, and All Points North Foundation to install solar panels on select Proud Ground homes. Together, the partnership has helped over 25 homeowners install solar panels on their homes, at no cost to the homeowner!

    First Steps:

    • Watch the Solarize the Land Trust webinar.

    • Review the program requirements below

    • Let Tyrone Brown know that you are interested in putting solar panels on your home by submitting a complete solar application.

    Program Requirements:

    • You must be a current Proud Ground homeowner.

    • You must be current on Proud Ground monthly lease/service payments and your mortgage.

    • You meet Solar within Reach income requirements.

    • There must be 10 years of life remaining on the roof of the home.

    • The roof must be south- or west-facing, with almost no shading from trees to the south and/or west of the home. An online and in-person assessment will be made on your roof to determine this.

    Once you meet program requirements and have submitted a solar application, a solar installer will complete a physical assessment of your roof to determine suitability.