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Coalition proposes off‑market purchases, pre‑market buys and land‑banking to scale Good Deeds
Summary
West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition presented three pathways to expand its Good Deeds program — off‑market deed purchases, early bulk buys in approved developments and land banking — and suggested cost‑sharing partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions.
April Long, the coalition executive director, outlined three principal ways to enlarge the Good Deeds program: buying deed restrictions off‑market from homeowners who want to make a legacy or charitable contribution; pre‑market bulk purchases of free‑market units during the entitlement phase to secure price caps and deed restrictions; and accepting land gifts or purchases for future affordable projects.
Long described the off‑market option as purchases from owners “who are not exactly ready to sell their home, but could use the cash or may want to make a charitable contribution,” and said the coalition would then facilitate a resale into the affordable market when the owner sells. For the pre‑market approach, Long said the coalition could participate as an early buyer in a development that already has affordable set‑asides, buying additional free‑market units at scale and placing deed restrictions on them.
She also described partnerships splitting contributions with other jurisdictions. “If a buyer wants to qualify for our program…but wants to buy in Eagle County, then Eagle County comes in with 15% and we split the cost and the deed,” Long said, explaining an existing partnership structure with Eagle County where Eagle contributes up to 15% of purchase price in some cases.
Coalition staff said they are also exploring a fee‑for‑service administrative model to run programs or provide back‑office services for jurisdictions that lack administrative capacity. Long noted the coalition recently received an $80,000 grant to expand capacity and outreach and said organizers will continue pursuing philanthropic and local government support.
Councilors requested more detail about legal mechanics, fiscal exposure and examples of pricing assumptions. Staff said some of those specifics (price caps, program thresholds and inventory counts) will be provided for additional review.
