These are questions I am frequently asked about the Alisal land lease.

PLEASE email or call me if you have a question I have not covered here.
 
The lease is WHY we bought here ! My husband & I liked having control of our money and no mortgage. Not owning the land gave us those funds to invest in other properties for investment growth.
These homes would sell for more than double if the land was included.

Q. What does owning a home mean here at the Alisal?
A.  Just that...you own the home and not the land. Paying for just the home frees up your money to invest in other ways. We find that liberating. The lease is a fabulous one. It was set up for the first reassessment at the 25th year, then the 40th year and then each 10 year interval thereafter. This a "lifestyle" property. If you enjoy views, nature, wildlife, privacy, entertaining and being part of a wonderful group of people, this could be the place for you.

Q. How long is the lease?
A. The original leases were written for 75 years.

Q. What happens at the end of the lease?
A. In 2023, homeowners were offered a lease addendum that amends the original lease document to extend the end date of the lease to December 2098.  This gives us a value we did not have in our original leases. The majority of homeowners have signed this addendum.

Q. Can the lease be arbitrarily changed at any time?
A. No, each lease is a legally binding document and can not be changed without the consent of both parties.

Q. Do I pay tax on both the land & the house?
A. Yes, upon the purchase of an Alisal home, the property & house is reassessed by the county tax assessor, you pay tax on both the land & house. Keep in mind the lease amount does not change until that properties lease adjustment date comes up, not when it sells.

Q. Who determines land value and how is the lease amount set?
A. The land value is determined by a licensed appraiser about two months prior to that properties lease adjustment date. The lease amount is then set at 6% of that appraised land value, and is fixed for the following 10 years.

Q. How is the lease paid?

A. You may pay the lease yearly or quarterly.

Q. Is there a Homeowners Association and or homeowners fee?
A. No.

Q. Who maintains the roads and the property surrounding the leased land?
A. Alisal Properties Inc, the land owners.

Q. Is the lease payment tax deductible?
A. No.

Q. If I own a home on the Ranch, can I play golf and tennis as part of my ownership?
A. No, you must apply for and be approved by the membership committee.

Q. What is the "Signature Club"...

A. I can give you the Alisal contact person to inquire about that membership.

Q. What are the fees to join the golf and tennis clubs?
A. The fee to join the tennis club is $.    (family) and $.   per month.
     The fee to join the golf club is $.     and $.    per month. Please check as these membership amounts change.

Q. Is the Alisal golf course public?
A. No. The golf course is for the hotel guests, golf members, and their guests only. There is a public course just down the road also owned by the Alisal ranch, the River Course.

Q. Can I have a horse on my property or board it at the ranch?
A. No, horses are only allowed at the guest ranch and all horses are owned by the Alisal Ranch.

Q. How do homes outside the Alisal, but similar to Alisal homes, compare in price?
A.  Because you do not own the land, homes in the Alisal run about 1/2 the price of similar homes on fee simple land.

Q. Is the lease amount the same for all homes?
A. No. A licensed appraiser appraises each property and uses many factors to determine value, from lot size to usability and location. Each lease amount is calculated on 6% of that properties land value.

Q. Has the lease ever gone down?

A. As we all have seen all across the US land values have been rising on a yearly basis.

Q. Is it possible to buy the land under your home?
A. Not at this time, but you may sell the house and transfer the house & lease to a new buyer.

Q. Can you rent out an Alisal home? 

A. NO...not short term, only long term, like 6 moths or longer. 

Any other questions....? please feel free to call me at (805) 245-8141.