REAL ESTATE

How We Work

True Ground is dedicated to equity, justice, and inclusivity. Combining commercial real estate financing expertise with a strong social impact mission, we create sustainable and affordable housing solutions for all.

Innovative Financing

True Ground’s success in developing affordable housing stems from its innovative financing approach, particularly the pioneering hybrid use of 4% and 9% low-income tax credits in Virginia. Since 2016, True Ground has created five hybrid developments, with a sixth slated for construction and five more in planning. Despite competitive markets, True Ground has consistently succeeded in tax credit applications and remains dedicated to pursuing creative financing options for challenging projects.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)

Since 1986, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has been the primary tool for creating and preserving affordable housing in the U.S., financing 3 million affordable apartments and supporting around 7 million low-income households. It has generated $323 billion in local income and created 3.4 million jobs over 30 years, making it crucial for addressing the affordability crisis and ensuring diverse, inclusive communities. The Virginia Housing manages the state’s tax credit pool, allocating credits to the most needed housing projects. Developers like True Ground apply for these credits and have secured them annually, including for the 2024 Crystal House redevelopment project.

Learn More About LIHTC

Enterprise Community Partners:
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

Novogradac & Company:
About the LIHTC

Partnerships

True Ground collaborates with mission-centered partners to design mixed-use properties that achieve the partners’ goals and provide affordable housing. True Ground handles conceptualization, entitlements, design, financing, construction, and operation, funding all predevelopment costs and offering financing guarantees and expertise. Partners contribute land and a shared vision. Structuring options include land sales for cash endowment, ground leases with capitalized lease payments, condominium structures for shared land ownership, or other arrangements like annualized income streams and joint ventures.

Community partnership in action: volunteers delivering essential items and engaging with children.

Local Funds

Since 1988, the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) has been Arlington County’s main financing source for affordable housing, creating around 8,300 rental units for low- and moderate-income households, including housing for the elderly, homeless, or disabled. AHIF provides low-interest loans to developers, supports renovations and upgrades for existing affordable housing, and helps prevent the loss of housing units. Operating as a revolving loan fund, AHIF ensures timely repayments, enabling reinvestment in future projects. With a deep history and commitment to serving Arlington County, True Ground elevates this example of local jurisdictions working to meet the regional need for more affordable homes.

AHIF and True Ground

True Ground has received AHIF funding for several projects, including:

Image of the Gilliam Place apartments
Gilliam Place
Modern multi-story building, sunny day; cars parked along the street, autumn-colored trees nearby.
Columbia Hills Apartments
Photograph of a brown and beige building
Queens Court
Children enjoying a water activity at a community event with a colorful inflatable in the background.

Community Engagement

True Ground engages the community from project inception through completion. Homeowners often wonder about the impact of affordable housing on their property values. Data reveals that homes near True Ground properties consistently increase in value. Equally compelling is showing neighbors that True Ground residents are fellow caring citizens who actively contribute to their community.

True Ground is a nonprofit real estate developer that owns and preserves affordable residential housing throughout Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland.

"Equal Housing Opportunity" logo

True Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, handicap or age in any of its activities or operations.

© Copyright 2024 Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. All Rights Reserved.
True Ground is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit | EIN 54-1515133 | 4318 N Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA 22203
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