Homeownership
Habitat for Humanity Greater Palm Beach County partners with first-time homebuyers to build safe, decent, and affordable homes. The homes are built together by utilizing volunteer labor, professional contractors, and materials that are donated or purchased locally. Future Homeowners are required to invest a minimum of 300 partnership hours of their own labor into the construction of homes before being eligible to purchase their home utilizing a 30-year, interest-free loan.
About the Property
The property photo represents what a Habitat Home looks like and is not the actual home you are applying for.
How to Apply
To qualify to become a Habitat Homeowner, you must have a need for shelter, display the ability to pay an affordable mortgage, and be willing to partner with Habitat GPBC. Please click here to review the full list of requirements below prior to applying.
To apply:
- Download the application below (or pick up a printed copy at our Lake Worth office, located at 3716 S. Military Trail, Suite 200, Lake Worth, FL 33463).
- Review the qualifications to determine if you meet the qualifications and are interested in applying.
- Complete the lot selection form to indicate that you have visited the lot and are interested in applying for the home that will be built there.
- Make copies of all the documents listed on the ‘Document Checklist.’
- Complete the application in full.
- Submit the application and documents in an envelope in-person or via mail to 3716 S. Military Trail, Suite 200, Lake Worth, FL 33463. Applications will be accepted on a fist-submitted, first-qualified, first-served basis. Email applications will not be accepted.
homeownerservices@
Homeownership Program Qualifications
initial requirements
- All members of household must be U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents.
- Applicants and co-applicants can not have had a foreclosure within 7 years of the application date.
- All adults of household (age 18 and over) must be able to pass a criminal background check.
- Applicants and co-applicants must be a first-time homebuyer (not owned a home in the last 3 years, except a mobile home) or be a displaced spouse due to domestic violence or divorce.
- Applicants and co-applicants cannot have had a bankruptcy discharge within 7 years of the application date.
- Applicants and co-applicants must be willing to live in the cities and neighborhoods where we will be actively building and/or selling homes.
Need for Housing
Lack of adequate housing may include:
- Problems with the home or apartment's structure, water, electrical, sewage system, heating/cooling, hazardous substances, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards.
- The home or apartment may be:
- Overcrowded
- Unaffordable (if the applicant/co-applicant spends more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing)
- Government subsidized (e.g. housing authority or section 8 housing)
- Transitional (individual or family currently living with a family member or friend)
Ability to Pay a Mortgage
Applicants and co-applicants must be able to
- Earn an annual income that falls within 30% to 80% of area median income as determined annually by HUD (*in order to qualify, each Habitat GPBC home area may have a specific income requirement.
- Provide proof of stable income for the last two (2) years (e.g. tax returns, w2, 1099, paystubs, bank statements, etc)
- Provide history of paying bills on time
- Sustain a savings account.
- Be able to afford a minimum mortgage repayment as established by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County
- Have an acceptable credit history.
- Have no accounts in collections, charge-offs or unsatisfied public records on credit history.
- Save and contribute $5,000 toward your escrow (1st year of homeowner's insurance, taxes for your home and additional closing costs).
Willingness to Partner
Applicants, co-applicants and their families must be willing to join in an ongoing partnership with us while in the Homeownership Program and after purchasing their home. Applicants and co-applicants will be expected to register for and volunteer for a minimum of 300 tracked partnership hours (per each household applicant).
They must work in partnership with the organization by:
- Assisting in the construction of the homes currently being built
- Volunteering at local community non-profit organizations.
- Volunteering at our ReStores
- Assisting with our Neighborhood Revitalization Program through painting, critical repair or weatherization projects
- Attending all mandatory educational workshops and meetings to learn homeownership skills, home maintenance, financial management, etc.
- Participating in public relations/ marketing efforts to help raise awareness and funds.
- Acting as an ambassador and example in their community to improve their neighborhood.
If you would like to be notified about future homeownership opportunities, please enter your information below
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County is 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 becoming a homeowner due to race, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
