Homeowner Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you give away homes to people?
No. Habitat is both a builder and a mortgage company. All applicants who qualify for a home must have a steady source of income, from working and/or non-working sources, and must repay a 20-year mortgage with on-time, in-full payments each and every month.
2. Are there any restrictions on owning a Habitat House?
Yes. Like other affordable housing programs, Habitat requires that its houses are homeowner occupied. This means that you cannot use it for business purposes, move out and leave it empty, rent it out, or move out and let others live there instead. After a homeowner has fully paid off the mortgage, these restrictions are removed. And, like all other mortgage companies, Habitat requires that the property (house and yard) are maintained in good condition.
3. If my income increases after I have bought my house, will that affect my status?
No. Habitat encourages all of its homeowners to continually improve their financial status through additional education, training, or job promotions/changes that provide better pay, hours and/or locations. Our hopes are that having a stable home will free up time and energy to pursue additional opportunities. We have had homeowners who have consistently paid their mortgages, continued to work and returned to school for certifications or degrees to increase their earnings.
4. What happens if I can’t work due to illness/injury and can’t pay my mortgage?
Montgomery Habitat works with a mortgage servicing company to service your mortgage and pay out property taxes and homeowners insurance. This servicing company will work with you to put a plan in place to get payments back on track.
5. What are "Sweat Equity" hours?
Partner families must fulfill 400 'sweat equity' hours of volunteer work, both on our construction sites working on their home and other partner families' homes, working at our ReStore, and participating in required workshops and educational classes. These hours are vital to remaining in good status in the Habitat program.
6. If I want to more space or bedrooms than Habitat’s guidelines allow, can I do that?
No. Habitat builds houses according to the number of family members in a household. Our homes are affordable, energy efficient and provide adequate living and storage space for most families. Our 3-bedroom houses are typically around 1100 square feet and have two full bathrooms.
7. If I own land, can Habitat build a house on it?
Maybe. Our program is for first-time homeowners – anyone who has not owned a house. If you own land in Montgomery County, we might be able to construct a home on it, but our construction department will need to evaluate it. But, more importantly, you will need to apply to and be approved for our home ownership program in the exact same manner as all other applicants. Only after you have met our home ownership program criteria will we look at this possibility.
8. How does Habitat decide where to build? Can I ask for a specific location?
Habitat acquires land primarily through donations therefore we have limited areas where we build. Applicants who want to be part of our program will need to be open about the location of their future homes, and willing to live where we are currently building. Applicants will be assigned a location based on the current/upcoming construction sites at the time they reach the requisite amount of "sweat equity" hours. We are unable accept applicants requesting specific locations.
9. How long is it from the time I apply for a home until I close and move in?
Typically, families close on and move into their homes about 12-18 months after their initial application is submitted. Our program relies on sponsors to funds houses and community volunteers to help construct them. This timeline allows applicants to plan for their move, complete the sweat equity hours required by our program, and participate fully in the construction of their own homes.
No. Habitat is both a builder and a mortgage company. All applicants who qualify for a home must have a steady source of income, from working and/or non-working sources, and must repay a 20-year mortgage with on-time, in-full payments each and every month.
2. Are there any restrictions on owning a Habitat House?
Yes. Like other affordable housing programs, Habitat requires that its houses are homeowner occupied. This means that you cannot use it for business purposes, move out and leave it empty, rent it out, or move out and let others live there instead. After a homeowner has fully paid off the mortgage, these restrictions are removed. And, like all other mortgage companies, Habitat requires that the property (house and yard) are maintained in good condition.
3. If my income increases after I have bought my house, will that affect my status?
No. Habitat encourages all of its homeowners to continually improve their financial status through additional education, training, or job promotions/changes that provide better pay, hours and/or locations. Our hopes are that having a stable home will free up time and energy to pursue additional opportunities. We have had homeowners who have consistently paid their mortgages, continued to work and returned to school for certifications or degrees to increase their earnings.
4. What happens if I can’t work due to illness/injury and can’t pay my mortgage?
Montgomery Habitat works with a mortgage servicing company to service your mortgage and pay out property taxes and homeowners insurance. This servicing company will work with you to put a plan in place to get payments back on track.
5. What are "Sweat Equity" hours?
Partner families must fulfill 400 'sweat equity' hours of volunteer work, both on our construction sites working on their home and other partner families' homes, working at our ReStore, and participating in required workshops and educational classes. These hours are vital to remaining in good status in the Habitat program.
6. If I want to more space or bedrooms than Habitat’s guidelines allow, can I do that?
No. Habitat builds houses according to the number of family members in a household. Our homes are affordable, energy efficient and provide adequate living and storage space for most families. Our 3-bedroom houses are typically around 1100 square feet and have two full bathrooms.
7. If I own land, can Habitat build a house on it?
Maybe. Our program is for first-time homeowners – anyone who has not owned a house. If you own land in Montgomery County, we might be able to construct a home on it, but our construction department will need to evaluate it. But, more importantly, you will need to apply to and be approved for our home ownership program in the exact same manner as all other applicants. Only after you have met our home ownership program criteria will we look at this possibility.
8. How does Habitat decide where to build? Can I ask for a specific location?
Habitat acquires land primarily through donations therefore we have limited areas where we build. Applicants who want to be part of our program will need to be open about the location of their future homes, and willing to live where we are currently building. Applicants will be assigned a location based on the current/upcoming construction sites at the time they reach the requisite amount of "sweat equity" hours. We are unable accept applicants requesting specific locations.
9. How long is it from the time I apply for a home until I close and move in?
Typically, families close on and move into their homes about 12-18 months after their initial application is submitted. Our program relies on sponsors to funds houses and community volunteers to help construct them. This timeline allows applicants to plan for their move, complete the sweat equity hours required by our program, and participate fully in the construction of their own homes.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of 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 obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
