Homeownership Program
Habitat Detroit provides you with the coaching, education and support to be successful in your home buying journey. Your options may include buying a newly built home or a rehabbed house by Habitat.
Freshly renovated, energy-efficient Habitat homes are sold to those who qualify and are approved for our program. Prospective home buyers who partner with Habitat are community-minded residents who are looking for the stability of homeownership.
Homeownership Program Qualifications
- First time home buyer
- Income limits apply
- Acceptable credit
- Save for a minimum down payment
- Willingness to partner with Habitat through sweat equity
- Have or obtain a Mortgage Pre-Qualification
- Ability to obtain a Pre-approval letter for a minimum of 100k from a lender
Program Eligibility
What if I already own a home?
In order to be eligible for our homebuyer program, you must be a first-time homebuyer.
Do I need to be married or have a family?
No, Single individuals can purchase a Habitat home on their own or with another adults. All applicants MUST live full-time in the home and be at least 18 years old.
What are the income requirements?
Income requirements are based on the Area Median Income (AMI) for Wayne County. Eligibility requires an income between 30% and 80% of the AMI. Income guidelines can be found here.
What is a pre-qualification and how do I get one?
A pre-qualification is a statement from a mortgage lender that indicates how much you can afford based on your current income, debt/income ratio, credit score, and down payment contribution.
A pre-qualification can be secured from your current banking institution or the lender of your choosing. You can also work with one of our partner lenders to secure your pre-qualification here.
What are the credit requirements and what if I do not meet them?
Lenders will typically want to see a credit score of at least 550, and often times a score above 620.
If your credit score is not high enough you can contact us for referrals to partner agencies than can assist with financial counseling.
I could not qualify for a mortgage pre-qualification. Now what?
If you were unable to secure a mortgage pre-qualification at this time we can provide you with referrals to partner agencies who can assist you with financial counseling.
Different lenders do have different requirements so we encourage you to apply through several different lenders of your choosing.
What requirements are there other than income?
Habitat requires our partner homebuyers to have a demonstrated need for housing, ability to afford a mortgage, and a willingness to partner through 300 hours of sweat equity and attendance of homebuyer readiness classes.
Application Process
I have submitted a pre-qualification. What are my next steps?
Once you have submitted a pre-qualification you will hear from a member of our homeownership program team regarding your next steps. Due to application volume, please give up to 5 business days to hear back. If you are not contacted you can reach out to us at [email protected] or call (313)-521-6691 to speak with a staff member.
If your pre-qualification meets our current limit you will be sent the full program application and a list of the financial documents needed to move forward.
I need help filling out the full application. Can a staff member help me?
If you are unable to complete the full application on your own a member of our team can assist you. Please call (313)-521-6691 to schedule an appointment to complete the full application.
What financial documents are needed as part of my application?
Generally the financial documents we request as part of reviewing an individual’s financial situation and ability to pay a mortgage include:
- Most recent 2 months of income
- Most recent two months of bank statements
- Past 2 years of w-2’s and state and federal tax returns
- Any statements of monthly fixed income (child support, social security etc)
I applied previously and was not eligible but my situation has changed. Can I apply again?
Applicants are more than welcome to re-apply if they previously were not eligible for the program and feel they would now be able to qualify! Please start with the initial step on completing the online intake form so we have your most up-to-date contact and situation information and secure a new mortgage prequalification even if you previously had one.
Home Buying Process
How long will I be in the program before moving into my home?
Time spent in the program varies depending on a number of factors. Availability of a home that meets each homebuyers needs in terms of size, location, affordability etc. all play a role. Additionally, 300 hours of sweat equity must be completed and our homebuyers are required to save towards their down payment. One can anticipate anywhere being in the program anywhere between 6 months and 18 months due to this wide variety of factors.
What is Sweat Equity?
Sweat equity is hands-on time that our future homeowners put into their home or other Habitat homes. Sweat equity builds a homeowners community through partnership with the Habitat affiliate and volunteers, as well as a sense of pride and the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills surrounding home maintenance.
A total of 150 sweat equity hours are required by each partner homeowner household, and unwillingness to participate is means for disqualification from the program.
How much do the houses cost and what will my monthly mortgage be?
Affordable housing costs 30% or less of one’s monthly income. As such, the cost of our homes and their monthly mortgage varies depending on each homebuyer’s needs and affordability.
Where does Habitat build?
Habitat for Humanity Detroit serves the communities of Wayne County and the City of Detroit. We build and renovate homes in many different areas of the county and work with homebuyers to secure the purchase of a home that meets the needs of that individual homebuyer and their family.
When can I see available homes?
Habitat homes are available to homebuyers fully accepted to the homeownership program that are mortgage ready. Eligibility for homes is dependent on household size, income and savings and as such varies for each individual homebuyer.
Equal Housing Opportunity Statement:
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the 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, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Equal Housing Opportunity Statement:
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the 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, handicap, familial status, or national origin.