Home Inquiry
Fill out this quick questionnaire and our Home Services Program lead will contact you to talk you through the process of applying to become a Habitat Family!
What is sweat equity
Sweat equity can take many forms for future homeowners partnering with Habitat. Essentially, it’s a new homeowner investing work in their home or one for another family. It’s an opportunity for families to help build their home alongside volunteers and play an active part in making their dream of owning a home a reality.
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Eligible Homebuyers must be:
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In need of safe, affordable housing
What this need looks like will vary from community to community, but applicants may be dealing with substandard housing that is poorly built, damaged or inadequate; rent or mortgage that’s greater than 30% of their gross monthly income; unhealthy living conditions such as homes with mold and asthma triggers; or a home that is inaccessible for their disabilities.
Willing to partner with Habitat
Once selected, homebuyers must partner with Habitat throughout the process. This partnership includes performing “sweat equity,” or helping to build their own home or the homes of others in our homeownership program. Sweat equity can also include taking homeownership classes or performing volunteer work in a Habitat ReStore.
Homebuyers also participate in homeowner education classes, which provide a mix of hands-on and classroom learning. The courses cover home maintenance and repairs as well as saving, managing a mortgage and maintaining personal finances. Each class is crafted to help empower participants to be successful homeowners.
Low- to moderate-income
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For U.S. applicants, household income must not exceed 60% of the area median income, which is defined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can find the median income of your area and for your family size using the query tool: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
Able and willing to pay an affordable mortgage
Habitat ensures that the monthly mortgage payments do not exceed 30% of the homebuyer’s gross monthly income at closing. Mortgage payments are cycled back into the community to help build additional Habitat houses.