The purpose of this form is to submit your interest in becoming a homebuyer with the Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust. We are a 501c(3)-certified non-profit whose goal is to acquire homes, rehabilitate them, then we sell the home but lease the land under a 99-year ground lease to an income-qualified homebuyer. This interest form is NOT a formal application. Please review and answer the questions below carefully and truthfully:
What does the application process look like?
- Fill out the homebuyer pre-application on this page.
- Attend a Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust Orientation (one hour, virtual or in person). We will offer 2-3 sessions between September 1 and 30, 2026. Individuals who completed a Pre-Application form will be invited to attend these sessions.
- Complete the formal BNCLT Homeowner Application.
- If you are a finalist for the Homebuyer, you will be instructed to attain a pre-approved letter for a mortgage from one of our partner banks including the Bank of Pontiac, Heartland Bank, and Credit Union for All
- Down payment of 1% to 3% of the purchase price. This will be determined by the bank and/or down payment assistance.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Must have lived in Bloomington-Normal for at least one year.
Must be a first time home buyer (not owned in the last three years, and does not include Mobile Homes).
It is not BNCLT’s policy, but our bank partners require everyone on the mortgage to have a social security number.
A family can not earn more than 100% of Area Median Income (AMI) for Bloomington-Normal. Income for everyone 18 years and older is included. Income is counted using total gross (before taxes). For more information, see the table below.
What does the timeline look like for the first house?
- This pre-application form will be open until no later than September 1st, 2026. Our team will then send out an email to all applicants a survey for availability to attend the required information session. We might plan on holding more than one to accommodate folks.
- After the information session, we will send out the full application. At that point, you’ll be made aware if you qualify as to not waste your time in case you do not. The full application will require supporting documents such as bank statements (this will be discussed at the informational meeting).
- When submitting your application, you will be required to take a “Money Matters Workshop” with Mid Central Community Action, which is typically the first Monday evening every month.
- Applications and all supporting documents are due no later than October 31st, 2026.
- Our team will score and review the applications and interview prospective candidates no later than mid-December 2026.
- Pre-approvals and additional down payment programs will be worked out with lenders no later than January 1st, 2027.
- Homebuyer will complete the Pre-Purchase Homebuyers Education Online Course from HUD and a 1:1 session with a HUD certified Housing Counselor before the end of February 2027.
- Closing on the home and signing of the 99 year ground lease by the end of February 2027.