Apply for a Habitat House
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Habitat homeowner. We believe that everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home. Learn more about the process and requirements below and contact us to apply.
Path to Home Ownership
Habitat’s path to home ownership is an important and in-depth process.
This process requires hard work, time and dedication – but this helps to ensure the long-term success of Habitat homeowners. To carry out our vision, we partner with individuals and families from application through construction to when the keys are handed over.
By working with us from beginning to end, we can help prospective individuals prepare for the various responsibilities of homeownership, including learning about personal finances, mortgages, maintenance and upkeep of homes, and much more.
Habitat follows a nondiscriminatory policy of homebuyer selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor.
How to Qualify for a Habitat Home
Prospective Habitat homeowners must demonstrate a need for safe, affordable housing. Need will vary from community to community.
Once selected, Habitat homeowners must partner with us 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.
Homeowners must also be able and willing to pay an affordable mortgage. Mortgage payments are cycled back into the community to help build additional Habitat houses.
Habitat homeowners must be active participants in building a better home and future for themselves and their families.
Every Habitat home is an investment. We believe that stronger homes will create stronger communities.
Three Essential Requirements
#1: Need for Housing
Need for housing is defined as living in Loudon County for at least 1 year and either the rent is too high, you pay too much for utilities, there isn’t enough space for your family, or the living conditions are causing health issues.
#2: Able to Pay monthly
This means you have had a stable income for over 6 months, you pay your rent on time, you do not have judgements against you for debt collections or court actions, you are not in a lawsuit, and you have not been foreclosed on or declared bankruptcy in the past 7 years.
#3: Partner with Habitat
This means you are willing to partner with Habitat and that you are willing to put in 250-500 hours of “sweat equity” at the construction site or Home Store and attend home ownership classes in order to qualify for your home.