Can You Build Equity with a Ground Lease?

One of the first questions we get from buyers exploring Jubilee’s ground lease is:
“Can I still build equity if I don’t own the land?”

It’s a fair question — and a really important one.

After all, owning a home isn’t just about having a roof over your head. It’s also about building wealth, stability, and a financial future. So if you're buying a home on leased land, it's natural to wonder whether you're giving up something big in the long run.

Here’s the good news: With Jubilee, you absolutely can build equity — just like in traditional homeownership.

Let’s break down how it works.

What You Own

With a Jubilee ground lease, you buy the home itself — the structure, the improvements, the part you live in. We buy the land underneath it.

That separation is what brings your upfront costs down. But it doesn’t take away your ability to build value over time.

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Where Your Equity Comes From

Just like in traditional homeownership, you build equity in three main ways:

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1. Paying Down Your Mortgage

Every month, a portion of your mortgage payment goes toward reducing your loan balance. That’s value you’re keeping — not spending. And since the cost of your mortgage is typically lower in a ground lease (because you're financing less), you may be able to pay it off faster or borrow less to begin with.

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2. Home Appreciation

Here’s the part a lot of people worry about: “If I only own the building — and buildings depreciate — am I missing out on the real value?”

Not with Jubilee.

Our model is designed so you share in the entire property’s appreciation — not just the home structure.

When you choose to buy the land from Jubilee (whether years later or as part of a sale), the buyout price is based on the total market value of the full property — land and home combined. So if the neighborhood goes up in value, or the land becomes more valuable over time, you still benefit. We're not just valuing the house in isolation — we're valuing the entire property.

That means we’re aligned: when your property gains value, we both share in it. You're not missing out on the upside — you're participating in it fully.

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3. Adding Value Through Renovations

If you make meaningful improvements — like upgrading a kitchen, adding a bedroom, or building a rental unit — that added value belongs to you. When it’s time to buy the land or sell your home, we account for those renovations, and subtract their value from buyout price so we don’t share in your improvements.

In short: You keep the value you created.

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Real Ownership, Real Equity

We get it — ground leases can sound unfamiliar. But Jubilee’s model is designed specifically to make ownership more accessible from the start, and still valuable over time.

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So yes, when you buy a home through Jubilee:

✅ You build equity as your home — and the whole property — appreciates ✅ You benefit from paying down your mortgage ✅ You retain the value of any improvements you make ✅ You have the option to buy the land — but you don’t have to in order to build wealth

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Jubilee Supports You Every Step of the Way

We know ground leases may be new to you — and we’re here to help. Jubilee works closely with both buyers and agents to guide everyone through the process with clarity, transparency, and support.

Whether you’re prepping a listing presentation, crafting an offer, or fielding client questions, you don’t have to go it alone.

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Bottom Line: It’s Time to Think Differently

In today’s market, agents need more than just good instincts — you need new tools. Jubilee gives you a practical, proven way to help both buyers and sellers succeed, even when traditional options fall short.

If you’re ready to expand your playbook, we’re ready to partner with you.

Let’s help more people buy homes. Let’s help more homes get sold. And let’s do it together.

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Want to Learn More?

Whether you’re a buyer, an agent, or just someone curious about how this all works in practice, we’re here to answer your questions. Our team is happy to run scenarios, show you how equity works in real life, and help you explore your options.

Let’s talk.

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