Home Ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
Other links:
Habitat for Humanity International
Student Chapter - UW Whitewater
Lakeland Builders Association
Habitat builds simple, decent homes that are affordable to individuals and families (both referred to as families) whom otherwise may not be able to afford to purchase a home. No two Habitat homes are exactly the same.
Habitat houses are built with skilled carpenters, licensed contractors, and volunteer helpers. They are constructed strictly to local and state building codes, using quality new and like-new materials, and with the high level of standards established by Habitat for Humanity - International.
Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, through zero-interest loans. The cost of a Habitat home is generally lower than the price of most conventional housing.
As a partner family, you will help build your home (as well as help build other Habitat homes), become the owner of that home, and make monthly payments for mortgage, property tax, and homeowners insurance. You will also be responsible for items such as utilities, maintenance and other expenses and responsibilities of a homeowner. It is your house, you own it!
Do I need a down payment? (Back to top)
Sweat equity (see below) will be your down payment on your home. When you move into your Habitat home, you will be responsible for the mortgage payments, insurance and taxes on your home. House maintenance will be up to you. There may also be closing costs due at time of occupancy, associated with utilities, insurance, and other standard home purchase closing costs.
Sweat Equity...? (Back to top)
A family wishing to apply for Habitat housing must be willing to participate fully in building or refurbishing a Habitat home. The selected family is expected to work on Habitat projects before purchasing their own Habitat home. This is called sweat equity.
Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County requires families selected for housing to contribute a minimum of 250 hours on their own home or other Habitat projects. Any family member over the age of 11 may count their productive work on a Habitat project as sweat equity.
Tasks a family may perform include clearing a lot, actual construction, preparing food for workers, telephone, typing, etc. Friends and relatives of the selected family may help the family meet their quota of sweat equity hours by contributing up to 1/2 of the needed hours.
The Family Support Committee of Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County is responsible for recording and calculating sweat equity hours for each partner family. A form is used by the committee to record the hours.
Once a family has purchased and moved into a Habitat home, the family is expected to maintain the house. Work related to on-going home maintenance is not considered sweat equity.
Am I Eligible?
(Back to top)
How does your family qualify?
Qualified families are recommended by the Family Selection Committee to the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County for final selection. To qualify, you must:
· Show you are in inadequate housing now and are unable to build or buy a home with traditional financing.
· Be willing to help build your own home and be willing to help build other homes in the Habitat community.
· Show you have lived in Walworth County for a minimum of six months
· Be willing to live as a member of the community in your new neighborhood, as well as the Habitat community.
· Show at least one person in your family has a source of income.
· Demonstrate by your history that you will be able to pay back the cost of your loan and pay the property taxes, utilities and other expenses related to owning a home.
You must also meet the following guidelines for income eligibility.
| Number of People in Your Family | Maximum Income to Qualify |
| 1 | $ 22,700 |
| 2 | $ 25,900 |
| 3 | $ 29,150 |
| 4 | $ 32,400 |
| 5 | $ 35,000 |
| 6 | $ 37,600 |
| More than 6 | Contact office |
Year 2007 figures U.S. Housing and Urban Development
How do I apply for
the Habitat Program? (Back to top)
How do I get an Application?
Families interested in applying for a Habitat home are invited to attend an orientation meeting where the Habitat program is explained in detail and application forms are distributed. Help is available, if necessary, to complete the application and provide the necessary documents. Orientations are
normally held each Fall and Spring.
Interested individuals and families should phone the office at (262)
949-0542
or e-mail us at tmckeown@charter.net
If your application shows you are eligible for the Habitat program, you will be interviewed by the Family Selection committee, and may have a home visit.
The Family Selection committee makes the decisions as to which family or families to offer a partnership with Habitat, pending approval by the Board of Directors, based on greatest need, willingness to partner, and ability to pay. We hope to have all applicants notified of the status of their application within 30 days after the completion of the application.
If I am selected, what do I have to do? (Back to top)
Habitat is more than a single home, it is a community. The family chosen will become a partner with Habitat for Humanity – Walworth County, and will contribute sweat equity. This means you will be expected to help build your own home and also to help other families build theirs. You may also be asked to participate in other Habitat activities such as publicity and fund raising. In helping out, you will become part of the large habitat team seeking to do away with poverty housing throughout the world.
If you have any further questions,
contact
us!
Habitat looks for individuals at all levels of ability and skill to help
build homes. Habitat homes are built with skilled carpenters, licensed
contractors, and volunteer helpers.
If you have a specific skill to offer, or the desire to learn and help,
we could really use your help.