Residents of Alisal Country Estates secure ownership in a $12 million deal.

Residents of Alisal Country Estates Mobile Home Park at 1280 Rider Ave. in Salinas have acquired their community in a $12 million purchase, becoming the area's first resident-owned community in recent years.

“This is much more than just a purchase, it's about the hardworking people who make our community stronger every day in a time where families are working harder than ever to create a better future for the next generation, this represents hope, security and a continued commitment to our community’s future,” Leticia Castro Martinez, resident and treasurer for the community’s board of directors, said in a statement.

This acquisition was completed on May 11, and was facilitated by resident organizing, supported by the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) and financing from ROC Capital, the community development financial institution arm of ROC USA with about an $8 million loan. Funding of about $4 million was also provided by California's Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which provides state funding for affordable housing projects in agricultural communities.

The University of California Irvine’s Law Community and Economic Development Clinic have represented the residents since spring of 2025 and assisted the community in setting up a cooperative legal structure, drafting governance policies, and securing financing to make the purchase possible. UC Irvine Law students who worked on the closing were Amber Nelson, Alyssa Hamamoto, Tomas Chang, Ryan May and Ray Zeng, according to the UC Irvine School of Law.

Previous semester law students also worked in the case.

“Meeting residents in person made the work feel very real,” Hamamoto said. “It was rewarding to see how much this acquisition meant to the community and to know that our work could help residents preserve affordable housing and gain greater control over the future of their park.”

Alisal Country Estates supports numerous agricultural workers. Traditionally, residents only own their homes while leasing the land, leaving them vulnerable to rent hikes and displacement. Resident ownership changes this dynamic by granting long-term stability, community control and housing affordability, according to a press release by the CCCD.