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Qualifications for Homeowners
 
     
   
 



"Having a home of my own means stability, security and comfort for my son and me.  I take pride in my home and I am very grateful that God has blessed me with my home.  I would also like to thank Habitat for opening their doors and teaching me how to maintain my home."

- Habitat homeowner
 

 

Need
 

Ability to Pay
 

Willingness to Participate as a Partner with Habitat


 
 

Need

 

You will be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is not adequate, and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means.  Housing need must be evident because it is not possible to assist everyone.  Lack of adequate housing may include problems with: the present structure, water, electrical or sewage service systems, heating system, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards.  Also taken into consideration are the number, the ages and the sex of the children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.  We are currently building in Norristown, Pottstown and our newest site in North Hills so you will be selecting a home in one of those areas of Montgomery County, PA.

 

The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered to determine need.  You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation with a Habitat interviewer.

 

You must also currently live or work in Montgomery County in order to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County home.

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Ability to Pay

 

We utilize many factors to determine whether our applicants have the resources necessary to purchase housing from Habitat.  These factors may include a minimum income guideline, credit report, debt to income ratio, and documented payment history.  Since you will be actually buying your home from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment.  Families must fall between the income limits illustrated in the chart below to be able to afford a Habitat home.  Our monthly mortgage payments will include not only the payment on the mortgage, but for the payment for real estate taxes and insurance, as well.

HOUSEHOLD SIZE 30% of MEDIAN 60% of MEDIAN MEDIAN INCOME
One Person $ 15,600 $ 31,200 $ 52,000
Two Persons $ 17,850 $ 35,700 $ 59,500
Three Persons $ 20,070 $ 40,140 $ 66,900
Four Persons $ 22,300 $ 44,600 $ 74,300
Five Persons $ 24,100 $ 48,150 $ 80,250
Six Persons $ 25,850 $ 51,720 $ 86,200
Seven Persons $ 27,650 $ 55,275 $ 92,125
Eight Persons $ 29,450 $ 58,860 $ 98,100
People applying for Habitat Houses have to earn between 30% - 60% of the median income for the county.

 

We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses.  We can also help you if you need to develop a budget to determine your eligibility.  There is no interest on the loan for a Habitat home.

 

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Willingness To Participate as a Partner with Habitat

 

When approved by the Board, you become a "partner family" in the Habitat movement.  Your assistance in constructing your home and the homes of others is called "sweat equity" and may include clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, providing food for volunteers or working in the Habitat office.

 

You will also be required to attend our annual Cornerstone Home Maintenance Workshop Series as a part of the sweat-equity program.  Partner families will receive sweat equity hours for attending these workshops as well as knowledge of how to successfully maintain your home.  This workshop series is especially important because you will be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you move into your home.

 

The sweat-equity program may seem quite hard, but you are allowed to complete these hours over a period of up to two years.  As a partner family, you must complete 200 hours of sweat equity per adult signing the mortgage.

 

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The selection of families who will purchase homes from Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County will be done by the Board of Directors in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status, or because all or part of the applicant's income is derived from public assistance programs.  We are pledged to the letter and spirit of 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 obtain housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.