Apply for the Program
Habitat for Humanity provides an opportunity for those in the community who qualify, to buy their own home, selling the home to the selected partner(s) at no profit to the organization under affordably financed mortgages. Eligibility for Habitat for Humanity is based on: Need, Willingness to Partner, and the Ability to Pay (monthly mortgage payment + closing costs). More information can be found in our FAQ section below.
NEED: You can be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is inadequate and/or substandard, and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through conventional means.
In terms of the condition of your present living situation, we define ‘inadequate or substandard’ as housing which is too expensive, temporary in nature, has structural problems (including issues with accessibility for a special need or problems with basic systems such as water, electrical or sewage), and/or is overcrowded. Other factors may be also be considered in this definition. In defining overcrowding, the number, age and gender of children is taken into consideration compared to the number of bedrooms in your current housing. If you are living in subsidized or transitional housing, such as Section 8, you may qualify.
In assessing need, Habitat also looks at the income eligibility guidelines below and must be able to verify income from all adult members of the household, not just the program applicant(s).
INCOME ELIGIBILITY: The income requirement is that a household of x size earns between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as defined by HUD. (HUD calculations are based on a household of 4 with slight changes in the applicable % either up or down based on the household size. Approximate incomes within these ranges are shown in the table below. Income ranges are updated annually. Actual income ranges for a specific Habitat project could be different due to funding requirements.) Note: We can provide the income range for household sizes above 8 upon request.
The figures below are taken from the Maine Housing Authority’s annual spring income calculations.
WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER: When selected, you become a Habitat “Partner”. Each partner contributes 250 hours of ‘sweat equity’ per adult in the household (up to a maximum of 500 hours) on the construction site and in various other capacities. Partners are also required to complete homeownership courses covering topics such as personal finance, home maintenance, etc.
Note: Accommodations to the completion of sweat equity can be made for documented disabilities in accordance with the ADA.
ABILITY TO PAY: To be selected for a Habitat home, the applicant(s) who will be listed on the mortgage note(s) must have documented, adequate, and reliable income to make their monthly mortgage, real estate taxes and insurance payments.
Please note that we request that you list all sources of income on your initial pre-qualification application but that in determining eligibility, we look for steady income that is reliable, verifiable and expected to continue for at least three years or more. These figures include all forms of income such as alimony, child support (if you have at least five additional years to receive it, and it is consistent), pension, retirement, SSDI, SSI, Survivor’s benefits, and wages. We can include non-work related income such as food stamps, TANF, etc. as stable income if you can guarantee you will receive that income for the next three years. Unemployment, vouchers, fuel assistance and other such forms of financial aid would not qualify but should still be disclosed on your application.
RESIDENCY STATUS: The applicant(s)/borrower(s) must have lived and/or worked in Hancock County for a minimum of six months prior to application. Also, any applicant(s)/borrower(s) who will be listed on the future mortgage note(s) must be legal U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
National origin-immigration status. The applicant’s immigration status and ties to the community (such as employment and continued residence in the area) could have a bearing on Habitat’s ability to obtain repayment. Accordingly, under the Special Purpose Credit Program definition, Habitat may consider immigration status and differentiate, for example, between a non-citizen who is a long-time resident with permanent resident status and a non-citizen who is temporarily in this country on a student visa. [Paragraph 6(b)(7). — www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/6500-300.html]
Not all members of the household must be legal U.S. citizens or permanent residents, but household members must be on the path to citizenship [see FAQ below] in order for Habitat to be able to accurately define and verify “need”; Habitat must be able to verify all adult household member(s)’ income and monetary contribution(s), if any, and design an appropriately sized home with adequate # of bedrooms per HUD’s definition of overcrowding.
Our Selection Committee is eager to find qualified applicants from all parts of Hancock County or those willing to relocate to Hancock County, either with or without land. (Please note that having land does not give an applicant an advantage over others in our process.)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is the first step for Habitat homeownership? If we are not accepting applications, please check back later. We will post on the website and on our FaceBook site as soon as we have an application round scheduled.
How do you choose homeowners for the Habitat homes? If the applicant meets financial requirements, there may be a home visit. Here Habitat’s Homeowner Selection Committee gathers information about the applicant’s need for housing and willingness to be an active partner with Habitat, participating fully throughout the program. A follow-up home visit may also be scheduled. After the Homeowner Selection Committee approves an applicant’s eligibility it presents recommended applicants to the Board of Directors for approval.
How is household membership/size determined? Household member definition / include on your application: Are Habitat houses free? Each partner has a mortgage that is repaid monthly. Monthly payments, which include taxes, typically run on average less than a 2-bedroom monthly rental. Each house is independently appraised for Fair Market Value (FMV) prior to closing, and the difference between the first mortgage (priced based on affordability) and the appraised value typically becomes a silent second note. Habitat also requires partners to save $1,500 toward their closing costs (vs. a conventional loan’s 10-20% down), to be paid at closing before a homeowner moves into her/his home. (Note: Overall settlement or closing costs are generally about 3-6 percent of the sale price of the Habitat home. The remaining costs for closing not covered by the partner’s savings for things such as inspection, title policies, insurance, mortgage and transfer taxes, attorneys’ and recording fees, and escrow reserve funds are to be added/wrapped into to the cost of the first mortgage.) The first mortgage is paid down each month by the Habitat partner/borrower along with escrow for taxes and insurance, but, in recognition of the equity already invested in the house, the second mortgage is forgiven a certain % each year over the history of the term of the first mortgage, provided the partner remains in good standing on their mortgage. The home is fully owned by the family at the end of the mortgage. How is Habitat different from a traditional bank/home builder? Habitat is able to offer its homeowners a substantial amount of savings by bundling these services and providing them all in-house or through a combination of in-house services plus unique partnerships with other community organizations and businesses. Through the Habitat model, we are able to open the door to homeownership for those who would not be able to buy a home of their own. Once requirements are complete, and the construction of the home is finished, Hancock County Habitat for Humanity then sells the home to the future Homeowner at no profit to the organization, financing the sale with an affordable mortgage loan. What documents are required to apply for the Habitat program? Note: Hancock County Habitat is considered a Special Purpose Credit Program provider, and, as such, may ask for & consider information not typically required by a conventional lender. For more information see: www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/regulations/1002/8/ Note: Beyond the above items, Hancock County Habitat adheres to the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) definition of a completed mortgage loan application as being one which must include a specific property address, an estimate of the value of the property (in the case of a new Habitat home build, one obtained by an independent FMV appraisal of the home at the end of construction), and the loan amount, among 6 key pieces of information required; therefore this is not a “loan” application but simply an assessment to determine eligibility to partner with the organization. What is good credit? How does your credit history look? You can check yours by getting your credit report. You are able to get a free credit report once a year from each of the three reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To obtain a copy of your free credit report, visit: www.annualcreditreport.com What if my credit report shows incorrect information, outstanding collections, debt, bankruptcies, judgments or liens? Applicants who have filed for bankruptcy in the past should show a good credit history since the bankruptcy, and bankruptcies must have been discharged at least 36-months prior to the application for housing. Certain requirements may be waived in cases of personal or natural disaster. Homeownership is a huge responsibility. Habitat’s goal is to help you become not just a homeowner, but a successful homeowner. If homeownership is your ultimate goal, but you’re not quite financially ready to apply, below are some tools that can help. You may access one free copy of your credit report each year at: www.annualcreditreport.com. If you are concerned about your credit history, we encourage you to seek help from one of the consumer credit counselors listed on the enclosed. HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country providing free or low-cost advice; call (800) 569-4287 or visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm for more info. Additional resources may be found through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or at www.KnowYourOptions.com If my application for the Homeownership Program is not approved, can I reapply later? Some of our partners were denied the first time they applied due to outstanding collections and debts, income that was below our limits or other issues. They successfully improved their eligibility, reapplied and were accepted into the program. If you need help finding additional assistance, please visit our Community Resources page: http://hancockcountyhabitat.org/community-resources What is Sweat Equity? Once you are approved by the Board of Directors to become a part of our Homeownership Program, you must complete the required number of Sweat Equity hours at Habitat’s construction sites. It’s important for a future homeowner to give consistent, active participation on the construction site. In fact, most partners exceed the minimum required hours (250 hours per adult family member). Friends and family may help a future homeowner by volunteering with Habitat and donating a portion of their hours to help fulfill your sweat equity requirement. Habitat adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a future adult household occupant has documented conditions that prevent her/him from volunteering on an active construction site, staff will arrange for other opportunities to fulfill the Sweat Equity requirement. What are Habitat homes like and what do they include? Our homeowners generally are able to choose: A basic description of the home: What is not included in a Habitat home?: Typical 3-Bedroom, 1-Bath Hancock Co. Habitat Home (actual layout/size will vary based on occupancy #s). Bedrooms are modest sizes, typically just under 10’x10′. Houses are built on slabs, unless lot constraints dictate or house occupancy #s require more habitable space. Hancock Co. Habitat does not build garages. Note: New construction and rehabilitation projects may provide a set of circumstances combined with local code requirements, lot constraints, or community covenants in which some of the guidelines cannot be met.
