Homeownership

Interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner?

Call our office at 734.677.1558 for more information or click here to fill out our Intake Form – the first step toward owning a home!

You can also download our Homeownership Flyer by clicking here!

The homeownership program at Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley empowers families to build a new life for themselves through simple, decent, affordable homeownership.  Beautiful, energy-efficient Habitat homes are sold to individuals and families who qualify and are approved for our program. Those who partner with Habitat are hardworking community members who are looking for the stability of homeownership. We build houses to create a foundation for people to grow into their full potential. Ultimately, we build much more than houses – the impact of homeownership is profound and lasting. It’s a program that works!

We renovate homes in partnership with qualifying partner families and the community, and then sell the homes with zero percent interest mortgages to partnering families.  Huron Valley Habitat also works closely with partner families to prepare them to be successful homeowners.  The following steps describe the process of becoming a Habitat Homeowner:

Step 1:  Do you meet the following qualifications for Habitat homeownership?

  • Willingness to Partner with Habitat
    • Each adult must contribute a minimum of 300 sweat equity hours
  • Ability to Pay the Monthly Mortgage
  • U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency status
  • Live or work in Washtenaw County
  • Not currently have a mortgage
  • Two years must have passed since any bankruptcy was discharged
  • Demonstrate a need for simple, decent, affordable housing
    • Here are a few examples of how Habitat defines “need”:
    • You do not qualify for a mortgage through conventional financing
    • Your current housing is overcrowded
    • Your neighborhood is unsafe
    • Your current home has unsafe living conditions

Step 2:  Attend a Habitat Homeownership Orientation Session

Interested individuals and families must attend a Homeownership Orientation.  Orientations are held monthly in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti.  Participants learn more about how the application process works and Habitat’s homeownership program.  At the orientation, those wishing to apply must complete an intake form to determine if they meet the basic qualifications.  To sign up for an orientation, call Stephanie at 734.677.1558 ext. 106.

Step 3:  Application Process

Once an individual or family meets qualifications and is invited to apply, the application timeline varies.  Before the application process can start, the individual or family must turn in the completed application with all required documents.  Once submitted, the process has several steps, including a meeting to review the application and materials for completeness and credit/financial information, a Partnership Educational Orientation, and a home visit with the applicant family.

Step 4:  Board Approval

Once the above steps are completed and an applicant is determined to be eligible, the applicant information is reviewed by our Board of Directors.  Our Board of Directors makes the final decision on the families to be approved to purchase a Habitat home, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Step 5:  Support Partner Assigned

Once an applicant is approved by the Board of Directors, their information is turned over to our Family Support Committee.  An individual/family is assigned a support partner to work with them through the process and through the first year after closing. Together with the support partner, you create a plan to complete the sweat equity hours.

Step 6:  Homeowner Education

All prospective Habitat homeowners are assigned a family support partner, and are required to complete all required homeowner training sessions prior to closing on their home.  Topics include financial management and budgeting, home maintenance, and financial and legal aspects of homeownership.

Interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner?

Call our office at 734.677.1558 for more information or click here to fill out our Intake Form – the first step toward owning a home!

Meet some of our current homeowners.

Equal Housing Opportunity: “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 obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”