Families are selected based upon their “willingness to partner,” the need of the family, and the ability to pay back the zero-interest mortgage. Families must also be between 30%-60% of the area median income. This is determined by size as follows:
Stearns and Benton Counties
A Family of 1 should have an annual income $13,000-$25,980
A Family of 2 should have an annual income $14,850-$29,640
A Family of 3 should have an annual income $16,700-$33,360
A Family of 4 should have an annual income $18,500-$37,080
A Family of 5 should have an annual income $20,050-$43,020
A Family of 6 should have an annual income $21,500-$43,020
A Family of 7 should have an annual income $23,000-$45,960
A Family of 8 should have an annual income $24,500-$48,960
Sherburne and Wright Counties
A Family of 1 should have an annual income $16,500-$33,000
A Family of 2 should have an annual income $18,850-$37,680
A Family of 3 should have an annual income $21,200-$42,420
A Family of 4 should have an annual income $23,550-$47,100
A Family of 5 should have an annual income $25,450-$50,880
A Family of 6 should have an annual income $27,300-$54,660
A Family of 7 should have an annual income $29,200-$58,380
A Family of 8 should have an annual income $31,100-$62,160
Basic qualifications to become a homeowner:
1. Families must be in need of simple, decent and affordable housing.
2. Families must be able to pay the no-interest mortgage.
3. Families must be willing to develop a partnership with Habitat and complete at least 200 hours of sweat equity and complete 6-10 homeowner training classes.
4. All prospective home buyers must attend an orientation meeting.
At the orientation prospective homeowners will learn:
* what Habitat is about
* where and what type of homes we build
* what is involved in becoming a Habitat homeowner
* the steps to take to continue the homebuying process
Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families. More information about how to become a Habitat homeowner is available. Questions can be sent to habitat@cmhfh.org.
Sweat Equity
Whether it’s working on their own home, or on the homes of other future Habitat homeowners, applicants contribute toward our mission of building decent, affordable housing.
Sweat equity reduces the monetary cost of a house and increases the personal stake of each family member in their home. There is a strong sense of empowerment in knowing that the home is not a handout or a gift, but rather something they have earned themselves - with the help of a team of caring friends.
That sense of empowerment, a simple acknowledgement of the individual dignity of each person, is perhaps Habitat’s greatest strength.
“My wife and I and our five children lived in a two bedroom basement apartment. We cooked on a hotplate. We couldn’t rent an apartment because there weren’t any available for a family of seven. To have a house of our own was unbelievable!”
St. Cloud Habitat Home Owner
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