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Best fit
Income-qualified renters
Rent
Est. $927 - $2057/mo
Based on local HUD estimates
Floor plans
1 Bed • 2 Bed • 3 Bed
Total Units
58
Year Built / Opened
1994
Waitlist expected. Click Check Eligibility below to generate your ready-to-print application materials so you're first in line.
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How Walk Score worksNearby places
Grocery store
Jewel Food Store, about 1.55 miles away
School
Newton Yost Elementary School, about 0.77 miles away
What this means for you
This property includes LIHTC tax credit · Not Reported AMI. Rent rules can change by unit, so ask the office which program applies to the apartment you want.
LIHTC: These are income-based apartments with rent limits tied to the local Area Median Income (AMI) — not market-rate rent. The local 4-person AMI for the 46304 zip code is $108,098 (2024 data). Rent limits are set from that number. If this property also has rental assistance, some tenants may pay about 30% of adjusted income.
To qualify for these apartments at ORCHARD APTS III, your total household income must fit the local Area Median Income (AMI) limits for Chesterton and the 46304 zip code. The exact rules can vary by program and by household size.
This property includes LIHTC tax credit · Not Reported AMI. Check the program labels on this page and confirm the exact unit rules with management before you apply.
Local Median (1-Person)
$75,668
Local Median (4-Person)
$108,098
Based on the latest 2024 census data, the figures above show the local median earnings for this area. Management will generally require your household income to be at or below 50% of these median figures.
HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent, or SAFMR, is a ZIP-code-based fair market rent estimate. It can help you compare what different bedroom sizes may cost in this area.
| Bedroom | 90% | SAFMR | 110% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $927 | $1,030 | $1,133 |
| 1 BR | $1,044 | $1,160 | $1,276 |
| 2 BR | $1,269 | $1,410 | $1,551 |
| 3 BR | $1,557 | $1,730 | $1,903 |
| 4 BR | $1,683 | $1,870 | $2,057 |
These values are only a comparison tool. They do not replace the property's actual rent, and they do not guarantee what you will pay unless your program uses SAFMR directly.
Not explicitly confirmed. Call ahead to verify elevator availability and doorway widths before applying.
Property Owner
THE ORCHARD III LP
For Profit
Rent-Restricted Units
58 of 58 total
income-restricted tax credit apartments
Rent-Restricted Until
~1994
Minimum 30-year LIHTC legal commitment
Income Limit
Not Reported
Your household income must be at or below this % of Area Median Income
Additional Financing Sources
Orchard apts iii is a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) apartment community in Chesterton, Indiana. LIHTC properties — also called Section 42 housing or tax credit apartments — are income-restricted rentals developed with federal tax credits administered by state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs). Qualifying residents pay rent based on a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Chesterton. Based on 2024 data, the local AMI for the 46304 zip code is $75,668 for a single person and $108,098 for a 4-person household. These figures make Chesterton tax credit apartments among the most affordable rentals available without a Section 8 voucher.
To qualify, your total household income must fall at or below the income limit set for this property — currently Not Reported of AMI. Unlike public housing, LIHTC income-restricted apartments are privately managed and require you to apply directly to the property. Rent is fixed at a discounted rate tied to AMI — not to your specific income — so your monthly payment stays predictable.
By law, LIHTC properties must remain rent-restricted for a minimum of 30 years. Orchard apts iii was placed in service around 1994, keeping rents income-restricted at least through ~1994.
You must be of qualifying age. Your income must fall within HUD's Area Median Income (AMI) limits for Chesterton. Based on the 46304 zip code AMI (2024), this property's 50% income limit is approximately $37,834/yr for 1 person / $54,049/yr for a 4-person household.
This listing shows historically available units. Ask directly if a unit is open today.
If you use a wheelchair or walker, confirm elevator access and doorway widths before submitting a paid application.
Did you know?LIHTC properties have specific maximum rent limits based on your income and the local Area Median Income (AMI). Read the full guide
Income limits are calculated against the Area Median Income (AMI) for the 46304 zip code. Based on recent Census data, the local median income is $75,668 for a single person, and $108,098 for a four-person household. Your specific income cap depends on the exact subsidy program rules applied by management.
To view how these median figures translate to specific income caps (e.g., 30%, 50%, or 60% AMI limits) for all household sizes, check out the AMI Calculator .
Our eligibility tool automatically cross-references your household size and gross income with the local AMI database for this property to determine your fit.
LIHTC compliance period may have ended
Reason recorded: 1. Call management to confirm whether income restrictions and subsidized rents are still in effect.
For 46304, the reported fair market rent amounts are Studio $1,030 ($927 / $1,133); 1 BR $1,160 ($1,044 / $1,276); 2 BR $1,410 ($1,269 / $1,551); 3 BR $1,730 ($1,557 / $1,903); 4 BR $1,870 ($1,683 / $2,057). These figures are reference points used in housing assistance programs and voucher calculations, but they do not guarantee your lease rent.
| Bedroom | 90% Standard | SAFMR | 110% Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $927 | $1,030 | $1,133 |
| 1 BR | $1,044 | $1,160 | $1,276 |
| 2 BR | $1,269 | $1,410 | $1,551 |
| 3 BR | $1,557 | $1,730 | $1,903 |
| 4 BR | $1,683 | $1,870 | $2,057 |
The 90%, 100%, and 110% columns show the range around the base SAFMR value for each reported bedroom size. If you are using a voucher or other subsidy, ask management which standard they use for your unit size.
Jewel Food Store is about 1.55 miles away from Orchard apts iii.
Newton Yost Elementary School is about 0.77 miles away from Orchard apts iii.
This record reports: 1 Bed • 2 Bed • 3 Bed. Availability can change rapidly, so ask management which layouts are currently open and whether any accessible units are available.
Use the eligibility checker to see the next step for this listing. Contact details are not shown here, but you can start the process and get your application path from the property page.
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Orchard apts iii is a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property. HFA records indicate the income ceiling is set at Not Reported. This means your household income must be at or below that percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI) for chesterton. Based on 2024 Census data, the local median income for the 46304 zip code is $75,668 for a single person and $108,098 for a 4-person household. Management will verify income during the application process.
To view the specific income caps (e.g. 30%, 50%, or 60% AMI limits) for all household sizes, check out the AMI Calculator .
Our eligibility tool automatically cross-references your household size and gross income with the local AMI database for this property to determine your fit.
LIHTC properties are required by law to remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years from the date they were placed in service (Orchard apts iii was placed in service around 1994, so rent restrictions are secured at least until ~2024). After that period, the owner can choose to exit the program or renew. Ask management about the property's current compliance end date.
In addition to the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit, this property was also financed with: USDA Section 515 rural housing loan. Layering multiple housing subsidy programs is common and often allows properties to offer deeper affordability or better amenities than LIHTC alone.
HUD records indicate this property may no longer be actively monitored under the LIHTC compliance program (reason: 1). This does not necessarily mean it is market-rate — some properties voluntarily maintain affordability after the compliance period ends. Call management directly to confirm the current rent structure and any remaining income restrictions.
Data Provenance
Sourced from LIHTC Database. Last updated: Jul 11, 2026.Read our methodology.
