Homeownership Through AST
Jump to: The Homeownership Process | Preparing for Homeownership | Responsibilities and Stewardship
About Homeownership Through AST
Artist Space Trust offers affordable homeownership opportunities designed to support long-term housing stability for artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. These opportunities are intentionally structured to prioritize security, affordability, and staying rooted in community — rather than treating housing as a financial asset. AST homeownership opportunities are part of the Artist Housing Commons — a shared system of homes held and cared for over time to support long-term stability for artists across the Bay Area.
This page explains how AST homeownership works, what makes it different from buying on the open market, and how to decide whether it may be the right fit for you.
Photo: Community Land Trust leaders Teslim Ikharo (SHCLA + AST Advisory Council) and Asn Ndiaye (Executive Director, NCLT).
What Homeownership Through AST Means
When you purchase a home through Artist Space Trust:
You own your home
You live in it as your primary residence
The home is structured to remain affordable for future artists
What makes AST homeownership different is how the home is held and cared for over time. Most AST homeownership opportunities are part of a Community Land Trust (CLT) structure, designed to balance individual stability with long-term community benefit.
What Is a Community Land Trust?
A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a nonprofit housing model that separates ownership of the home from ownership of the land beneath it.
In an AST CLT home:
The artist homeowner owns the home
Artist Space Trust owns the land and stewards it for long-term affordability
By holding land outside the for-profit real estate market, community land trusts help shield homes from rising land costs and market pressures. This structure keeps homes affordable over time and ensures they remain available to future generations of artists.
What Does “Limited Equity” Mean?
Homeownership through a Community Land Trust is often described as limited-equity homeownership.
This means:
You build equity in your home over time
The resale price is set by a formula agreed to at purchase
The formula is designed to keep the home affordable for the next artist household
Limited equity limits profit from resale — not dignity, security, or stability. The goal is to balance individual benefit with collective responsibility, ensuring that the home remains part of the Artist Housing Commons over time.
Photo credit: Flee Kieselhorst
Is AST Homeownership a Good Fit for You?
AST homeownership may be a good fit if you are:
Seeking long-term housing stability
Interested in staying rooted in the Bay Area
Comfortable with shared affordability commitments
Looking for ownership without market volatility
It may not be the right fit if you:
Are seeking to maximize real estate appreciation
Plan to use the home as an investment property
Expect unrestricted resale or short-term ownership
Plan to rent the home to others (not permitted)
We encourage artists to learn about the model carefully and ask questions before pursuing this pathway.
What Comes Next
If you’re interested in homeownership with AST, these pages will help you take the next steps:
The AST Homeownership Process →
Step-by-step overview of screening, application, and selection.
Preparing for Homeownership →
What you’ll need to apply and how to prepare, even if you’re not eligible yet.
Responsibilities & Stewardship →
What it means to own a home within the Artist Housing Commons.
View Current Housing Opportunities →
Photo: Qiana Ellis, Sharmi Basu and Meg Shiffler