Hi neighbor! If you are here looking to learn how to become a homeowner through Habitat Charlotte Region’s homeownership program, you are in the right place. Every day we partner with hard-working families and individuals throughout the Charlotte Region to build comfortable, high-quality homes with affordable mortgages – a much better solution than paying more to rent a whole lot less!
Habitat Charlotte Region works with you to build a home with a mortgage that you can afford. Once your application has been reviewed and you have qualified for the program you become part of our family as a Habitat Homeowner-in-Process (HIP).
While we work together to build your home, you will attend 16 weeks of HIP classes. At these classes you will learn about personal financial management and acquire skills to maintain your new home. Our goal is to make you a successful homeowner!
In addition to HIP classes, you and your family are required to fulfill 300 Sweat Equity Hours. You will work side by side with Habitat staff, volunteers and other HIPs to work on your house, or volunteer with Habitat in other ways. Upon completion of HIP classes and fulfillment of your Sweat Equity requirements, we will work with you on closing, resulting in an affordable mortgage on a new home that you now own.
Income
Must be stable and fall between 30-80%* of HUD Area Median Income. See where your income falls on the AMI scale. If self-employed, you will be asked to submit the most recent two years of IRS 1040 Schedule C tax forms during the application process.
*Opportunities may be limited based on availability in the 60-80% range
Budget
Mortgage payments will be no more than 30% of the gross monthly income of the applicant(s). Applicant(s) will only be approved if the lowest monthly Habitat mortgage payment for their family size and total monthly debt expenses combined is less than 40% of their gross monthly income (debt-to-income ratio).
Delinquent Debt
No more than $1,200 delinquent debt at the time of application and all delinquent debt must be paid off before application approval.
Medical Debt
No more than $10,000 in medical collections.
Outstanding Debt
No more than $1,000 in outstanding debt at the time of application, excluding student loan or automobile loan debt.
Bankruptcy
Must wait two years after being discharged and reestablishing good credit to apply.
The application cycle is currently closed, but will open again in June 2022.
Click “Before You Apply” below to learn more about the application process and what you’ll need to apply, plus the chance to submit an interest form that will sign you up for an email reminder when applications open next!
The application process takes roughly 6-8 months. The sweat equity requirement takes 12-18 months. It generally takes about 1.5 to 2 years to complete the entire process, from the date of the application to the house closing.
If applicants do not meet Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region’s criteria for homeownership, and are not selected into the program, they will receive a letter with a description of the reason and a list of HUD approved Financial Counselors or a referral to another qualified organization.
There is no limit to how many times an individual can apply for a Habitat home, so we encourage applicants who do not make it the first or second time to reapply!
Absolutely. For questions or concerns regarding the application process, please email hbapplications@habitatCLTregion.org.