Habitat Homeowner Qualifications

Need for Housing
You will be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is not adequate, and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means. 

Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure; water, electrical or sewage service systems; heating system, hazardous substances, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards. You may also meet the need for housing qualification if you are living in an overcrowded or unaffordable situation. If you are living in subsidized or transitional housing, such as Section 8, you may qualify.

Ability to Pay
As you will be buying your house from Habitat, you must demonstrate an ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment on your home.  This monthly payment includes mortgage, real estate taxes, and insurance payments.  We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses.  

Family Income
Your income should fall within 25% to 70% of the county’s median income for you family size (see chart below). Additionally, you must have at least one year of stable income coming into your household.  We can include non-work related income such as food stamps, child support, TANF, Social Security, etc. as stable income if you can guarantee you will receive that income for the next three years.

2010 Income Guidelines

 Family Size
  25% Median Income
   70% of Median Income
 One  $10,833  $30,333
 Two  $12,375  $34,650
 Three  $13,917  $38,967
 Four  $15,458  $43,283
 Five  $16,708
  $46,783
 Six  $17,958  $50,283
 Seven  $19,208 $53,783
Eight
 $20,417
 $57,167


Credit
All applicants will undergo a credit check. Because we are interested in your access to homeownership, we are not as strict in your credit review as a bank might be. If there has been a bankruptcy in your past, it needs to be discharged for at least a year and you must demonstrate improved credit since then. If you have a court judgment resulting in a fine or settlement that is still unpaid, the judgment must be paid off in full. You must have a reasonable level of debt, and medical bills will not be counted against you.

Willingness to Participate as a Partner with Habitat
Once you have been selected to receive a home, you become a “partner family”. This partnership is a unique characteristic of our program in that you contribute to your ongoing eligibility through “sweat equity.” This means that each adult family member is responsible for completing 250 volunteer hours with Habitat for Humanity. This sweat equity hour requirement can be completed during site construction on current homes, in the Habitat office, at the Habitat ReStore, and by attending homeowner classes. Sweat Equity is a fun way to stay involved with both the Habitat community and the process of completing your future home.  

If you meet the qualifications and would like more information about Habitat homeownership, attend our next Homeowner Information Session at our office. Visit the calendar to find the next meeting.

If you do not meet these criteria, please refer to our Other Local Agencies list for alternative helpful programs.