Homeownership Begins Here
Habitat Homeownership Program
Thank you for your interest in Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program.
Our program is designed to provide safe, affordable housing to families who meet specific income and need criteria. As a partner family, you’ll work alongside volunteers to help build your home, while also contributing “sweat equity” hours, building not just a house but a sense of community and pride. With affordable, no interest mortgages, Habitat makes homeownership attainable for families who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
Qualifications
Is the Habitat homeownership program right for you? Habitat selects future homeowners for our homeownership program through three sets of criteria. Before you apply, make sure you have:
NEED FOR HOUSING
A need for housing can mean several different things such as overcrowding, high rent, or unsafe conditions in their current housing.
WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER
All Habitat homeowners attend homebuyer education courses and invest sweat equity hours to help build their home alongside our volunteers.
ABILITY TO PAY
Future homeowners will pay an affordable, no interest mortgage
Testimonials
FAQs
The application process takes roughly 4 weeks. The sweat equity requirement takes 6-12 months. It generally takes about 1 to 1.5 years to complete the entire process, from the date of the application to the house closing.
If applicants do not meet Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity’s criteria for homeownership and are not selected into the program, they will receive a letter with a description of the reason and a list of HUD approved Financial Counselors or a referral to another qualified organization.
There is no limit to how many times an individual can apply for a Habitat home, so we encourage applicants who do not make it the first or second time to reapply.
Payments vary depending on the house and applicant’s ability to pay. Payments include the mortgage
principle and escrow (taxes and insurance). Initial payments do not exceed 30% of the family’s gross monthly
income.
In general, an applicant must earn 50%-80% of the Area Median Income. Area Median Income guidelines are set by HUD and based on household size (the number of people you plan to have living with you). Guidelines are subject to change; Always check the specific income guidelines on the project application as these may be different. See the table above for a more clear breakdown of annual income range requirements by county.
“Sweat equity” is integral to Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build decent affordable housing. Each homebuyer is required to complete a certain amount of Sweat Equity Credit Hours (total per household, not per person) before they move into their Habitat home. The completion of Sweat Equity begins after selection into the Habitat Homebuyer program and consists of various educational courses and hands-on activities.
We do not have an application fee. Once you are in the program, you will be required to make a monthly
payment which is applied to costs associated with the closing of your loan, such as the first year of
insurance.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity is a 501 (c) nonprofit organization, EIN: 56-1657193 see our About Us page for more organization information.
