We expect to have our next home available in 2027
Who Qualifies for the Homeownership Program?
Partner families for homeownership are chosen through an application process. Our Family Selection Committee determines need, ability to pay for a mortgage, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors for final approval. Homeownership qualifications and requirements:
A) Need
- Your present housing is not adequate, or you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means. (Lack of adequate housing may include problems such as substandard housing, overcrowding, living in transitional housing, etc.)
- The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is too high. Your housing is considered unaffordable if your family spends more than 30% of its income on rent.
- You must be a resident of and have lived in Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park for at least the last year.
B) Ability to Pay
- Since you will actually be buying your house from Habitat for Humanity, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment, which includes real estate taxes and home insurance. All applicants must openly and fully discuss their financial situation with the Family Selection interviewer.
- Your family must have a stable income between 30-50 percent of the median area income (see chart below).
- Your credit must be reasonably good with a minimum of a 620-credit score without large debt, unresolved liens or judgments.
- A selected family is required to make a down payment of 1-3 percent of the mortgage amount. Payments toward the down payment may be made by your family once you are approved for homeownership.
C) Willingness to Partner
1. When selected, you become a partner family and will be responsible for 250-350 hours of sweat equity depending on family size. Sweat equity is volunteer work that may be accomplished through construction or repair of the partner family’s house and/or the houses of others, providing food for volunteers, working in the Habitat ReStore or Habitat office, and attending homeownership classes. One hundred hours may be satisfied by friends and relatives who join in the work on your behalf.
2. You will be responsible for maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you close on the mortgage.
AMI GUIDELINES
Minimum and Maximum gross income limits are based on 30%-60% of Area Median Family Income (AMI) as set by HUD for the Northern Virginia Area FY2024. *Maximum income amount is dependent upon federal funding sources for individuals homes and may be lower than 60% AMI
