Homeownership

qualifications

Need for Housing
  • Living in overcrowded housing
  • Living in substandard housing (water leaks, electrical or heating problems, etc.)
Willingness to Partner
  • Household willing to perform Sweat Equity hours and make a down payment.
  • Have lived or worked in Utah County for the last year
  • Show a need, the ability to pay monthly house payment, and be willing to partner with Habitat of Utah County.
  • Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident status.
General Information
  • Sweat equity hours must be completed by house closing.
  • Downpayment and closing costs must be provided by house closing.
  • Size of house is determined by current size of family. We do not build for the future. We will consider current pregnancy and other relatives who will join you soon.
  • We accept families who are on Section 8 Housing.
  • We check the sexual offenders registry.
  • Houses can take 8 – 24 months to complete.
Ability to Pay
  • Income: Earn 25%-60% of the Area Median Income. Refer to this chart and match your total family income with the total number of family members to check your income eligibility.
    • Social Security and Child Support count as income.
    • Food stamps, welfare, and unemployment benefits do not count as income.
  • Delinquent Debt: Less than 20% of your income goes to debt.
  • Medical Debt: will be considered separately
  • Outstanding Debt: No more than $1,000 in outstanding debt at the time of application, excluding student loan or automobile loan debt. (Child Support counts as debt.)
  • Judgments: show completion or payoff arrangement. Must be completed by house closing.
  • Bankruptcy: has to be resolved for at least 2 years.

getting started

If you meet these qualifications and are interested in participating in our affordable homeownership program, please call (801) 344-8527 to have your name put on our orientation list. You will be notified when the next orientation will be held.

see application process

Application Steps

  1. 1 Request An Application**
  2. 2 Income & Credit Report
  3. 3 Orientation Session
  4. 4 Complete Documentation
  5. 5 Background Check
  6. 6 Visit & Interview
  7. 7 Pre-Approval

Step 01

Request An Application**

Fill out the application packet carefully and submit all required documentation:

  1. Completed application
  2. Two recent months of paystubs (and/or proof of any other stable income)
  3. $20 application fee.

Step 02

Income & Credit Report

Habitat of Utah County calculates your income and pulls a credit report. If income and credit meet our requirements, you will be invited to participate in step 3.

Step 03

Orientation Session

Applicants that meet the initial criteria will be invited to attend a mandatory 1-hour orientation session and will receive a documentation packet required to move forward in the process.

Step 04

Complete Documentation

Submit all items requested in the documentation packet by the deadline provided.

Step 05

Background Check

Your criminal background, employment history and rental history are verified.

Step 06

Visit & Interview

Two members of the Homeowner Selection Committee will contact you to set up a time to visit and interview at your current residence.

Step 07

Pre-Approval

Pre-approved applicants begin Homeowner-In-Process training, which includes attending mandatory homeownership classes and completing the required number of Sweat Equity hours.

Questions (Review and edit)

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with Habitat homeowner (partner) families and volunteers. Habitat homes are then sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, 0% interest loans. The homeowner is responsible for the monthly mortgage payment. The revenue received from the mortgage payments is used to support Habitat’s programs.

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners are required to invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – “sweat equity” – into building their Habitat home and the homes of others.

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.

Habitat for Humanity was founded as, and still is, a non-denominational, Christian housing ministry. However, Habitat homeowners are selected into the program without regard to race, religion or ethnic group. Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths, or no faith, who actively embrace Habitat’s goal of eliminating poverty housing.

If applicants do not meet Habitat for Humanity of Utah County 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!

Yes. Habitat will work out a special arrangement by which you can satisfy Habitat’s “sweat equity” requirements through limited construction duties or work at the Habitat Re-Store. In addition, modifications will be made during the construction of your home in order to make it accessible.

Absolutely. For questions or concerns regarding the application process, please call 801.344.8527

After Habitat for Humanity helps build the home, the organization takes on the role of “lender” for the 0% interest mortgage.

Yes, that is a key part of the Habitat for Humanity program, which we call “sweat equity.” Homeowners work alongside Habitat staff and volunteers in the construction of their own homes and those of their neighbors. All families must satisfy the minimum requirement of  “sweat equity.”

No. A future homeowner can only begin their sweat equity hours after being accepted into the Habitat program.