Traditional Habitat Home
The traditional Habitat homeowner program (H1) allows first-time home buyers to purchase a new home. The family helps to build their home with sweat equity hours and receives an affordable mortgage with a low interest rate.
Purchase a New Habitat Home
Habitat offers new and affordable homes for sale in our H2 program to qualified applicants. The buyer will pay market value for their home and the current interest rate set by the lender.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMES – FAQ
What are Habitat homes like?
Habitat homes are three bedrooms and two-baths and are 1,300 square feet. Our homes earn the highest energy ratings possible.
Who builds Habitat homes?
Traditional Habitat homes (H1) are built by volunteers and the partner family but some parts of the home must be constructed by licensed contractors.
New Habitat homes (H2) are constructed by licensed contractors.
How long does it take to build a home?
Depending on weather, it takes four months to build a home.
Where do you get the money to build a home?
Habitat homes are sponsored by businesses, corporations, churches, civic organizations and private foundations that donate money to cover the cost of construction. Sometimes the funding for a home comes from one source, but more often it comes from several sources joining together to build a home.
What are the qualifications for becoming a partner family?
Families who qualify to build and purchase a Habitat home must meet the following criteria:
- Legally reside or work in Smith County for at least one year
- Consistent, annual household income of 50% to 80% of the median income of Smith County residents
- Demonstrate need for a home
- Ability to make monthly mortgage payments
- Pass credit, sexual offender and criminal background checks
- Willingness to invest 300 to 500 “sweat equity” hours in the building of their home and other Habitat homes
What does Partner Family mean?
A partner family is a family that has completed the application process and been qualified to partner with Habitat to build and purchase a home.
Who gets to buy a Habitat home?
Applicants who have met a rigorous set of qualification requirements, including:
- Show a NEED for better housing such as overcrowded living conditions, substandard housing, accessibility needs, and/or high rent payments
- Prove the ABILITY TO PAY mortgage payments
- Demonstrate a WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER with Habitat by returning documents in a timely manner , being on time for meetings, attending mandatory classes, completing sweat equity hours and showing a good attitude
- COMPLY with the conditions of the Habitat for Humanity of Smith County Partnership Agreement
Do you give away homes?
No. We build homes with people in need and sell them with an affordable mortgage loan.