Homeownership

Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to helping hard working families in our community attain affordable homeownership. Low-income workers are finding it hard to keep pace with the rising cost of living as they struggle to provide a decent home for their families.

Homeownership provides stability for families and children, a sense of dignity and pride and improved health, safety and security. It also increases educational and job prospects and makes our neighborhoods stronger.

To make homeownership a reality for deserving families in our community, Habitat for Humanity Prince William County uses tax-deductible donations of money and materials to build new homes or rehab foreclosed homes in partnership with families in need of decent, affordable housing. Partner families are qualified through a comprehensive application process that evaluates their need for housing, their ability to pay for a mortgage and their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity by providing volunteer labor.

Families who earn between 30% – 50% of the Washington Metropolitan Area Median Income (AMI) are considered for the program. The rehabbed home is sold to the partner family at no profit and is financed through an affordable mortgage that is paid over many years. A 1% to 3% down payment is required and Habitat for Humanity ensures that the monthly mortgage payment does not exceed 30% of the family’s monthly household income. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments support the construction or rehabilitation of more houses.

Homeownership Interest Form

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:

1) Need

1. 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.)
2. 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.
3. You must be a resident of and have lived in Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park for at least the last year.
4. Your annual total income is between 30-50% of the median income for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area based on the chart below:

2) Ability to Pay

1. 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.
2. Your family must have a stable income between 30-50 percent of the median area income (see chart above).
3. Your credit must be reasonably good without large debt, unresolved liens or judgments.
4. 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.

3) 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.

Application Process

If you would like to apply for Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership program, please fill out the Homeownership Interest Form.

For more information, call 703-369-6708 or email programs@habitatpwc.org.