Affordable housing apartments in Mission Viejo are reserved for households that earn below certain income limits, which are based on Area Median Income (AMI).
AMI is calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Orange County. For 2026, the AMI is about $104,200 for a one-person household, $119,100 for a two-person household, and $138,600 for a four-person household.
Most affordable housing programs use a percentage of AMI to determine eligibility, commonly 30% (extremely low income), 50% (very low income), and 80% (low income). Each development sets its own requirements depending on funding and housing rules.
When a project opens or a waiting list becomes available, property managers publish the income range required to qualify. Some units are restricted to households earning up to 50% of AMI, while others allow up to 80%.
For example, a single renter earning around $50,000 per year would likely qualify for a 50% AMI-restricted unit.
In Mission Viejo, that framework is now central to major proposals like the Horowitz Group’s planned 413-unit redevelopment along Marguerite Pkwy, where affordability requirements are currently being contested on appeal.
