Homeownership 101
Congratulations on owning your home!
We're here to help you understand the basics of homeownership
If you're a Proud Ground homeowner, we've created this page to help you find the information you need to make your homeownership journey a success. See below for links to our monthly fee portal, refinancing and home equity lines of credit options, and information on the basics of homeowners insurance.
Monthly Fees
Your intro to community land trust fees
All Proud Ground homeowners pay a monthly fee to Proud Ground and some homeowners also pay a maintenance reserve fee. The fee is very nominal ($51.50/month beginning January 2026) and is a small part of Proud Ground’s operating budget to ensure our organization can provide post-purchase support to our homeowners.
Home Maintenance and Upgrade Questions
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Please use the Homeowner Requests form.
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Great question! There are many benefits to planting trees around your house. Yard trees can…
Slow climate change
Mitigate storm-water flow
Improve public health by improving air and water quality
Provide habitat for wildlife
Improve the local food supply
Increase the livability of neighborhoods by calming traffic and reducing noise and glare
Improve property values
We highly recommend Friends of Trees for help planting trees in your yard. Friends of Trees charges between $25-75 for the tree, city permit, utility location service, hole digging, planting assistance, mulching, stakes, and first-year inspections. This is a value of over $200!
To learn more about planting a tree with Friends of Trees visit their website.
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There are resources available to help you. Please refer to the Homeowner Resources page to learn about repair workshops and tool libraries in your area.
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Proud Ground encourages homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes to lower their monthly housing costs and the impact on our environment.
If you decide to install solar panels, it’s important to check with your city, county, and homeowners’ association (HOA) to ensure that solar panel installation is permitted. You will also need to notify the Proud Ground Stewardship Manager about this modification and determine if you are eligible for a Qualified Capital Improvement Credit.
If you are interested in solar, and applying for a tax incentive, please visit Solar Within Reach.
Please note that as of September 2025, we do not have funding available for solar panel installation.
Refinancing / Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Learn more about refinancing and putting home equity to work for you
When you own a home, the time may come when you want to either renegotiate your mortgage or borrow against the home equity you’ve built up over time. One way of achieving this is through refinancing, in which you obtain a new home loan that replaces your original mortgage. Typically, refinancing allows you to lower your interest rate or convert your home equity into money to reinvest in your property.
Another method is to take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC). A HELOC basically functions like a credit account that you can use to borrow money. It is backed by your home equity. HELOCs typically have lower interest rates than consumer credit cards.
Proud Ground homeowners interested in refinancing or obtaining a HELOC, must get Proud Ground approval prior to obtaining the new loan. Contact homeowners@proudground.org if you are interested in learning more.
Reselling Your Proud Ground Property
Keep the home equity you’ve earned, and pass along an affordable home
Selling a home with Proud Ground is a unique process that aims to ensure continued affordability and equity within the community.
When a Proud Ground homeowner decides to resell their home, they must follow specific guidelines. The resale price is determined by a formula that takes into account the original purchase price, and local housing market conditions, while ensuring the home remains affordable for future buyers. This framework not only protects your investment but also guarantees that the benefits of homeownership are accessible to future generations.
Ready to sell your Proud Ground home? We are here to help you navigate the required steps and comply with our resale guidelines.
Our Real Estate Brokerage Services
Proud Ground is the only real estate brokerage in Oregon operated by a nonprofit. Proud Ground has real estate brokers on staff who assist home sellers in selling their Proud Ground home.
Proud Ground will help you determine the resale price of your home based on the resale formula and provide advice about how to prepare your home for sale. We will coordinate and staff open houses for potential buyers to visit your home. We will also coordinate photography for the home listing.
We can also help sell houses outside of Proud Ground. All the commissions earned by our realtors for these sales go back into the Proud Ground program.
Homeowners Insurance Basics
Protect your investment from events that are beyond your control
When it comes to getting home insurance, there is a lot of new information you are expected to know that can make the process of finding and buying a policy stressful. Check out our insurance basics guide for an overview on what you should know about protecting your home before you choose a plan.
Click here to learn about the basics of Homeowners Insurance ➔