Donate a Home or Land

Build Opportunity Through Real Estate Giving

Turn Your Property into Impact

Turn your property—whether a home, commercial building, or land—into lasting change for Sonoma County families.

With land scarce and construction costs rising, your donation is transformative: we may renovate it into a home or use it to fund additional affordable housing locally.

At the same time, donating offers benefits for you: it’s typically tax-deductible, may help avoid capital gains taxes, and can free you from ongoing maintenance, insurance, and property costs. Unused deductions can sometimes be carried forward for up to five years.

Note

Donations usually require an appraisal and proper IRS documentation to claim tax benefits.

Why Donate Real Estate?

You may be updating your estate plan or holding property that no longer fits your needs. Donating real estate to Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County benefits the community—and may offer meaningful benefits for you and your family:

Potential tax advantages
including a charitable income tax deduction and possible avoidance of capital gains taxes
Relief from ongoing costs
such as maintenance, insurance, and property taxes
No selling hassle
we manage the process for you
A lasting legacy
your family can be proud of

Ways to Donate Real Estate

Outright Gift:
Transfer property to Habitat for immediate use or sale in support of our mission
Bargain Sale:
Sell your property to Habitat for less than market value, with the difference treated as a charitable gift
Bequest:
Leave property to Habitat through your will or living trust
Life Income Gift:
Fund a charitable remainder trust or gift annuity and receive income for life
Retained Life Estate:
Donate your property while retaining the right to live in it for a set period

How Your Donation Helps

How we Benefit

Your real estate donation reduces development costs, helping us offer affordable mortgages and build stronger neighborhoods. Donations are typically tax-deductible at current market value, may help you avoid selling costs, and in some cases allow deductions to be carried forward for up to five years.

How You Benefit

At the same time, a real estate donation can benefit you: your gift is typically tax‑deductible at fair market value, can help avoid capital gains tax on appreciated property, and may free you from ongoing maintenance, insurance, and property taxes. If your deduction exceeds IRS limits in a single year, you may even be able to carry unused portions forward for up to five years.By donating property to Habitat, you create financial benefits for yourself while opening the door to safe, affordable housing for local families.

What Kind of Property Is a Good Fit?

The best properties often include:

Existing homes in need of renovation
Residentially zoned vacant land
Properties near utilities or with completed pre-development work

Every property is unique, and we’ll work closely with you to determine whether your donation is a good fit for our mission.

For more information about donating land or a home, contact us at: giving@habitatsoco.org