First Homes Added to New Central Iowa Community Land Trust in Columbus Park Neighborhood

The City of Des Moines has unveiled the first homes in the Central Iowa Community Land Trust (CICLT), marking a significant step in expanding long-term affordable homeownership opportunities in Des Moines and Central Iowa. Three homes are now part of the trust, with two located in the Columbus Park neighborhood and one in the Oak Park/Highland Park neighborhood.

One of the homes in the Oak Park/Highland Park neighborhood has already been purchased, while the two homes in Columbus Park remain available for purchase. The initiative is a strategic partnership between the City of Des Moines, Invest DSM and Home Inc., aimed at ensuring housing remains affordable as neighborhood property values increase.

The Community Land Trust model separates ownership of the land from the home itself. Under this model, the land trust retains ownership of the land while homeowners purchase the house. This approach allows homeowners to build equity over time while ensuring the home remains affordable for future buyers.

We’re building an opportunity for not only the first families coming in here, but future families to have an affordable home that they can purchase and call their own.

Jaqueline Chico, Program Manager at the CICLT

The land trust was launched in 2025 as a way to provide long-term affordable housing in Central Iowa. The trust buys existing homes or builds new ones using one-time private or public monies. It sells just the house to a qualified homebuyer who secures a mortgage, while retaining ownership of the land to keep property prices affordable.

When a homeowner decides to move, only the house is sold to another qualified buyer. The original home seller receives a predetermined amount of equity from the sale, allowing them to benefit from their investment while preserving affordability for the next buyer.

Invest DSM and Home Inc. Have an existing partnership with a shared goal of constructing five homes annually through the CICLT. The initial three homes contribute to that goal and serve as the first official properties available under the land trust model.

For those interested in purchasing a home through the CICLT, the first step is applying for the Shared Equity Program. This process includes completing homebuyer education, pre-purchase counseling, attending a shared equity information session, and applying for the Ready Buyer Pool.

The goal of the Central Iowa Community Land Trust is to have 100 properties in the trust by its fifth year of operation, according to Jaqueline Chico, the land trust’s program manager.

More information on homeownership opportunities through the CICLT is available at CICLT.org.