Honest answers about life at El Cerrito.

Everyone is welcome to apply. El Cerrito is an affordable community, so eligibility comes down to household income and size, never age. Call the office and we can usually tell you in one short conversation whether your household qualifies.

Household income must fall below limits that HUD sets each year for Taos County. The limits scale with household size and change annually, so the surest way to know is to call with a rough idea of your monthly income. In a town where rents run high, many working households are surprised to learn they qualify.

Current program rent for a two bedroom is $749 per month. It is a fixed amount, not a percentage of your income. For today's exact rate on every floor plan, and current availability, please call the office. Program rents adjust from time to time.

No, but they work well together. El Cerrito is tax-credit housing: rents are already set below market for every home, no voucher needed. If you do have a Housing Choice Voucher, it is welcome here. Call us and we will walk you through how the two combine for your household.

When homes are open, there is no waiting list: you can apply right away and move in as soon as your application is approved. When the community is full, we keep a waitlist and call in order as homes come ready. Joining costs nothing, and we will always tell you honestly where you stand.

El Cerrito was certified by Enterprise Green Communities when it was built in 2006. Every building faces the sun on purpose, so free winter sunlight does part of the heating work, and the energy-efficient construction holds that warmth in. The practical result is a home that costs less to keep comfortable at 7,000 feet.

Plan on a photo ID for each adult, Social Security cards for the household, and proof of income such as pay stubs or benefit letters. The office will give you the exact checklist when you apply and help you round up anything missing.

Please call the office for the current pet policy and any deposits that apply. Assistance animals are always welcome in accordance with fair-housing law.

We welcome reasonable accommodation and modification requests under Section 504 and the Fair Housing Act. Call us to talk through what you need. TTY users may dial 711.

Call to set up a visit. The office runs by appointment so someone can give you their full attention, show you the homes and the community center, and answer every question while the mountains do the selling.