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
General Information
The home you are applying for, if you are selected, will be:
- A simple, basic structure with no “frills”
- Built with money and labor donated by people
who are concerned about the way their neighbors live - Built when land and materials become available
- Built with the help of you, your family, friends, and volunteers
Application Process
Step 1: Prepare
Gather the following documents as they will be required to submit with your completed application. You may submit your required documents digitally or provide paper copies.
Not sure where to find some of the documents? We have included links below to guide you.
You will need 3 pieces of identification
- State Id/Driver’s License
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate OR Permanent Residency Card for all members of the household, 18 or older
TWO (2) MONTHS OF CURRENT PAY STUBS FOR EACH PERSON IN THE HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYED, 18 OR OLDER.
If self-employed, you will need the most recent two (2) months of your bank statements for all checking and savings accounts. You must include all pages, including blank pages.
LAST (2) YEARS W-2 FOR EACH PERSON AGE 18 OR OLDER IN THE HOUSEHOLD
Check with your employer if you need pay stub or W-2 copies. If your employer pays through ADP you can create a login to get copies of pay stubs.
LAST TWO (2) YEARS OF TAX RETURNS (1040) FOR EACH PERSON 18 OR OLDER IN THE HOUSEHOLD; 3 YEARS IF SELF-EMPLOYED
- Child support
- Alimony
- SSI Award Letter
- Disability
- Divorce Decree (if applicable). NOTE: If you are legally married, but separated, your spouse is required to provide income information and all required documentation even if he/she will not live in the house.
Step 2: Apply
Now that you have your documents ready, download the Homeownership Program Application to begin your journey to homeownership.
Upon completion of your application and receipt of required documents, Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity will begin the application review process.
*Application window opens in October but veterans can apply year-round.
Step 3: Submit
Completed applications with all required paperwork may be mailed to:
Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity
ATTN: Homeowner Services
PO Box 789 Newport, NC 28570
Note: Your application is not complete until you have submitted the required documents.
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.
