Good Deeds Vail partnership with Eagle County looks to bring more locals back into town

Prospective Vail homeowners now have another tool to becoming a local resident of the town at the base of Vail Mountain with the announcement this week of a partnership between Eagle County and the town of Vail called Good Deeds Vail.

Modeled after the county’s own program and its partnership with the town of Avon called Good Deeds Avon, the Good Deeds Vail program involves matched buy-down assistance and a price-capped deed restriction between zero and 3% annual appreciation based on income levels.

Town of Vail Housing Director Jason Dietz explained Good Deeds Vail will differ from the town’s innovative and long-running Vail Indeed program in that homes purchased in the new program will be appreciation-capped and someone applying for Good Deeds Vail must be the primary resident and cannot own property elsewhere in Colorado. Good Deeds Vail will also offer more financial assistance than Vail Indeed.

With Vail Indeed, the town provides 20% of the market rate value for the resident-occupant deed restriction and it comes with no income or appreciation caps — just the restriction that the occupant must make 75% of their income and work 30 hours or more per week in Eagle County. So an out-of-town buyer can own the home and rent it to local workers.

“It’s a much lighter deed restriction,” Dietz said of Vail Indeed compared to Good Deeds Vail. “There’s more flexibility. You can own other property elsewhere and rent your unit to local workers. (Good Deeds Vail) prohibits owning other property in Colorado, and it’s price-appreciation capped, but it gives you more money for that heavier restriction.”

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By comparison, under Good Deeds Vail, which is part of Housing Eagle County’s Community Partner Program, the town of Vail and the Eagle County Housing and Development Authority (ECHDA) will each contribute up to 15% of the purchase price of the home, which cannot exceed $1.25 million. That’s a combined buy-down of up to 30% -— capped at $375,000.

“So the house maintains affordability over time, with a lower level of portability,” Dietz said of Good Deeds Vail. “It’s not going to follow the market given that it can only go up to 3%, similar to other appreciation-capped restrictions here in Vail like (town-developed housing at) Chamonix or Vail Commons. And you can’t own other real estate here in Eagle County.”

Dietz said the program, which has been successful throughout Eagle County and in Avon, has already received interested before the county and the town even issued press releases.

“So, depending on what fits the homebuyer’s needs, that probably determines what program they want to go with (in Vail),” Dietz added.

Launched in 2025, Eagle County’s Community Partner Program is all about collaboration with communities throughout the county, with Good Deeds Vail following in the same successful footstep as Good Deeds Avon and preserving properties for local residents into the future.

“The Good Deeds program has made a true difference for local housing in Eagle County with over 200 units added in the last five years,” Eagle County Housing and Development Authority Executive Director Kim Bell Williams said in the release.

“With Good Deeds Vail, we’re continuing to expand access to homeownership by deeply reducing the purchase prices at closing for the local buyer,” Williams added. “Through deed restrictions, we can preserve these homes today for future generations. We’re thrilled to work alongside Vail to create more opportunities for locals in the town of Vail.”

The Good Deeds program is part of Eagle County’s broader three-year strategic plan.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the town of Vail to expand Good Deeds, as ‘Creating Housing Solutions for Locals’ is one of the Board of County Commissioners’ Strategic Goals,” Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr wrote in an email.

“The housing problem is unfortunately a familiar story,” Scherr added. “We all have friends or coworkers who have had to leave because they couldn’t find a place to rent, let alone buy. With partnerships like this, we are changing that story. We are working aggressively to create homes that are dedicated to locals. Real homes for the people who teach our kids, nurse the sick, and run our businesses.”

The Good Deeds Vail program will be open to eligible households as defined by the Eagle County Affordable Housing Guidelines, and eligible properties include open-market homes that are not already deed-restricted within the town of Vail boundaries. Buyers must occupy the home as their primary resident and provide a minimum 3% down payment.

“(Good Deeds Vail) will preserve existing housing stock for locals, expand upon the continuum of housing available, and maintain affordability over time,” the TOV’s Dietz added in the release. “This partnership cuts the town’s subsidy in half by splitting costs with the county, with both the town and county as beneficiaries to the deed restriction.”

To utilize Vail Good Deeds: Buyers should identify an eligible property and work with the program administrator to confirm qualifications, funding availability and next steps. A completed application typically includes a fully executed purchase contract, lender pre-qualification letter, photo ID, and proof of employment and/or residency (as applicable). Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funds and program approval. Good Deeds Vail will be administered by The Valley Home Store and is compatible with Eagle County Loan Fund’s Down Payment Assistance program on properties priced at $850,000 or less. The deed restriction is perpetual, ensuring these homes remain available exclusively to local residents forever. Go to Good Deeds Vail to learn more.