Can Clark County's Land Trust Help You Buy a Las Vegas Home?

For a lot of working households in the valley, the problem is not wanting to own. It is that prices and mortgage rates have moved faster than paychecks. Clark County’s answer is a different ownership model: a community land trust that separates the cost of the house from the cost of the land. The first homes are under construction now, and the county is already taking pre-applications. Here is how the program works, who it is for and what the trade-offs are.

What Is the Welcome Home Community Land Trust?

The Welcome Home Community Land Trust is a Clark County program that sells homes to qualifying households while the county keeps ownership of the land under each home. The buyer owns the structure. Because the land is not part of the purchase price, the house can be sold for less than a comparable home on the open market.

The program was built with help from federal partners. As FOX5 Las Vegas reported, the county worked with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office on legislation and efforts to secure Bureau of Land Management land for housing. Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick has described the goal as monthly mortgage payments of about one-third of household income, the common rule of thumb for an affordable housing payment.

Where Are the Land Trust Homes Being Built?

According to Clark County’s available-homes page, the first two developments are:

• Rebecca Place: a 30-lot single-family community in the City of Las Vegas, near Tropical Parkway and Rainbow Road in the northwest valley. It broke ground in December 2025 and is offered to households earning up to 100% of Area Median Income.
• Cactus Trails: about 210 homes planned on land secured from the Bureau of Land Management, for buyers earning up to 80% of Area Median Income.

Commissioner Kirkpatrick has said the first qualifying families could move into Rebecca Place as early as December 2026. She described the homes as typical houses that fit the neighborhood, across from a park and next to a school.

Who Qualifies for a Land Trust Home?

Eligibility is based mainly on household income compared with Area Median Income, or AMI, which depends on household size. Per the county, the first 10 homes are set aside for households earning above 80% and up to 100% of AMI. Homes for households in the 60% to 80% range are planned next. Current projects also require a household of at least two people, so single buyers do not qualify for these first phases.

That income band matters. It is aimed at the middle of the market: teachers, nurses, hospitality workers and other two-income households who earn too much for most rental assistance but still struggle to buy at today’s prices. For context on how far typical incomes are from the valley median price, see our breakdown of how much you need to make to afford a home in the Las Vegas Valley.

How Do You Apply?

The process has more steps than a regular home search. Based on Clark County’s land trust application page, it works like this:

1. Complete the eligibility steps. This includes a required homebuyer education class, offered virtually and in person.
2. Submit the pre-application. It can be completed at any time once the eligibility steps are done.
3. Wait for a matching home. Full applications open as specific homes become available. If your pre-application is approved, the county notifies you each time an application opens for a home you qualify for.
4. Apply for the home. Only one application per household is allowed, and approved applicants update their file rather than starting over.

Commissioner Kirkpatrick has also said local organizations can help prospective buyers who have credit concerns or need help getting a loan.

What Is the Catch With Land Trust Homes?

The trade-off is equity. County officials say owners can build some equity and sell after five years, but the program is designed not to produce a large profit, since public dollars help build the homes. In a regular purchase, all of the appreciation belongs to the owner. In a land trust, most of it stays with the program so the next family can buy at an affordable price.

That makes a land trust home a strong fit for someone who wants stable, affordable monthly payments and a long-term place to live, and a weaker fit for someone who sees a first home mainly as an investment. It is worth being honest with yourself about which group you are in before you apply.

Is a Land Trust Home Better Than Buying on the Open Market?

It depends on your income, timeline and goals. A land trust home offers a lower purchase price and a payment designed around your income. The open market offers full ownership of the land, full appreciation and far more choice of location and floor plan. With only 30 homes in the first community, supply will be limited, so most qualifying households should keep a regular search going alongside a land trust application.

The open market is also more workable for buyers than it was a year ago. Our look at whether you can still buy a home under $400K in North Las Vegas shows what an entry-level budget buys today. And if you do buy on the open market, having someone in your corner matters; here is why first-time buyers in Las Vegas benefit from their own agent.

What Should First-Time Buyers Do Now?

• Check the income limits first. Compare your household income and size with the county’s current AMI table before starting the steps.
• Take the homebuyer class early. It is required for the land trust and useful for any first purchase.
• Get your credit and savings in order. A lender pre-approval is needed either way, and it shows you what you can afford on the open market too.
• Run both paths at once. Submit the pre-application, and keep comparing resale and new-construction options so you are not waiting on a limited number of homes.

The land trust is one of several attempts to add attainable housing in the valley. For a broader look at what has opened recently, see our earlier coverage of new affordable housing in Las Vegas.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Welcome Home Community Land Trust?
It is a Clark County homeownership program for working households with limited incomes. The buyer owns the house, the county keeps ownership of the land underneath it, and that structure is meant to keep the homes affordable over the long term.

Who qualifies for Clark County's community land trust homes?
Households must meet income limits based on Area Median Income and household size. The first 10 homes at Rebecca Place are for households earning above 80% and up to 100% of AMI, homes for the 60% to 80% range are planned, and current projects require a household of at least two people.

Where are the land trust homes being built?
The first development is Rebecca Place, a 30-lot single-family community in the City of Las Vegas near Tropical Parkway and Rainbow Road. The second, Cactus Trails, is planned on land secured from the Bureau of Land Management for about 210 homes.

When can families move into Rebecca Place?
Rebecca Place broke ground in December 2025. Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick has said the first qualifying families could move in as early as December 2026.

Can you sell a land trust home and keep the profit?
You can sell, but the gain is limited by design. County officials say owners can build some equity and sell after five years, but the program is not meant to produce large profits because public money helps build the homes.

How do you apply for the Clark County land trust?
Complete the county's eligibility steps first, including a required homebuyer education class, then submit the online pre-application. Full applications open as specific homes become available, and approved pre-applicants are notified when an eligible home opens.

Sources: FOX5 Las Vegas coverage of the Welcome Home Community Land Trust (August 2026); Clark County Community Housing Office land trust application and available-homes pages, accessed October 2026.

About Alexandra Malenkina

Alexandra Malenkina is the Broker/Owner of Nevada Realty Experts, a bilingual English/Russian brokerage serving the Las Vegas Valley. With 15+ years of experience and 300+ home sales, she ranks among the top 5% of 16,000+ Las Vegas agents, with 75 five-star team reviews and 50+ Google reviews. Nevada Real Estate License B.1001643.

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Equal Housing Opportunity. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, lending or financial advice. Program rules, income limits and timelines are set by Clark County and can change; confirm current details with the county before applying. Consult a licensed real estate professional for advice specific to your situation. All real estate information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.