Homeownership Program
Our program provides affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in DeKalb County. The program partners with qualified applicants to build or renovate homes, offering them an affordable mortgage. Homebuyers must complete financial education, home maintenance training, and contribute sweat equity by helping build their homes or others. This program empowers families to achieve stability and self-reliance through homeownership.
Our homeownership application is now closed.
How It Works
The people who apply to become a Habitat homeowner typically do not qualify for a traditional mortgage. That means if they walked into a bank, they’d likely be denied. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a home.
That’s where Habitat steps in.
Habitat DeKalb bridges the gap between what a homeowner qualifies for and what the value of the home is. With this method mortgages are affordable, property values are protected, and families lives are changed.
Selection Criteria
The Habitat model uses several criteria to determine whether a family qualifies for our homeownership program:
- Applicant must live or work in DeKalb County for a minimum of one (1) year prior to applying
- Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S.
1. Need for better housing
- Current housing is unsafe or overcrowded
- Currently paying more than 35% of income for rent
- Must be a first-time home buyer
- You are unable to obtain an affordable mortgage through conventional means
2. Willingness to partner
- Must complete 250 sweat equity hours. Sweat equity hours are earned by volunteering to build your home and other Habitat projects
- Attend and pass all home owner education classes and workshops
3. Ability to pay
- Have a steady source of income
- Have good credit history (based on your credit report, NOT your credit score)
- Charged-off debts or collections are $2000 or less
- Bankruptcies and/or evictions have been discharged for a minimum of two years at the time of application. If it was dismissed, you must have paid off all debts to the bankruptcy
Income Guidelines
Total household income must fall within the listed guidelines, adjusted for family size
| Family Size | 50% of AMI | 80% of AMI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $37,650 | $60,200 |
| 2 | $43,000 | $68,800 |
| 3 | $48,400 | $77,400 |
| 4 | $53,750 | $86,000 |
| 5 | $58,050 | $92,900 |
| 6 | $62,350 | $99,800 |
| 7 | $66,650 | $106,650 |
| 8 | $70,950 | $113,550 |
How do I become a Habitat homeowner?
1. Attend Information Session
- Ask questions and learn what documents you need to gather in order to submit a complete application
2. Review Application
- A sexual offender and criminal background check will be conducted.
- Employment and rental history will be verified.
3. Approval Confirmation
- The qualified applicant will be presented to the Board of Directors who will make a final decision on a family’s acceptance into the program.
FYI
- Once accepted into the Homeownership program, the process from acceptance through moving into a home can take 8(eight) months to 2(two) years, depending on available funding, construction schedules, and the future homeowner's progress of completing requirements
- If approved – you will begin your partnership with Habitat DeKalb by completing classes, and begin working on your 250 sweat-equity hours
We are NOT accepting homeownership applications.
Are application cycle is closed.
We do NOT know when it will open again