Some of our most Frequently Asked Questions about homeownership are answered here. You'll find information about: Who is eligible to buy a Habitat home Owning a Habitat home Building a Habitat home If you don't find the answers you are looking for here, please contact us. Does Habitat give houses away? No, Huntington WV Area Habitat for Humanity (HAHFH) is not a giveaway program. Habitat’s homeowner families buy the houses that Habitat builds and/or renovates. Habitat makes no profit on the sale. In the United States, Habitat homeowners purchase their houses through affordable monthly mortgage payments. In other countries, Habitat also works with partner organizations to serve even more families through innovative financing methods. Habitat’s homeowners also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners. How are Habitat’s homeowner families chosen? Families in need of decent, affordable shelter apply to their local Habitat organization, called an affiliate.

Each affiliate’s family selection committee chooses Habitat homeowners for their local area, based on three criteria: The family’s level of need. Their willingness to become partners in the program. Their ability to repay the loan through an affordable payment plan.Big Time Timmy Jim T-Shirt Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Purina Cat Food Dietetic ManagementNeither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowner families.Arctic Cat Oil Equivalent Do I have to have children to qualify for a Habitat House?Habitat is a Fair Housing agency, which means we do not discriminate based on race/color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, disability, or familial status.

Thus, our program is open to all household types including individuals, couples, single parents with children, couples with children, etc. Ownership of a Habitat House If I buy a Habitat house, can I ever sell it?Families who purchase Habitat-built homes can sell them at any time. Habitat retains a “right of first refusal” that requires an owner to sell his/her house and then ask HAHFH if it wants to purchase the house for the same contracted price. To date, HAHFH has never exercised this right. Just like any other homeowner, selling a house typically requires marketing it through a real estate broker (including paying commission), continuing to pay one’s mortgage until it is sold, and living in it for several years before there’s enough equity to “make money” on it. Are there any other restrictions on owning a Habitat House?Like all other affordable housing programs, HAHFH 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. If my income increases after I have bought my house, will that affect my status?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’ve had homeowners who have consistently paid their mortgages, continued to work and returned to school for certifications or degrees to increase their earnings. What happens if I can’t work due to illness/injury, or have my hours cut, and can’t pay my mortgage? Our staff works directly with homeowners if they cannot pay their mortgage due to temporary or permanent changes in income.

Habitat meets with homeowners to better understand the circumstances, puts plans in place to get payments back on track, and sends monthly letters documenting progress. We work with all of our homeowners who have the commitment, follow-through and resources to help them keep their houses. If I want to add more space or bedrooms than Habitat’s guidelines allow, can I do that?HAHFH builds houses according to the number of family members in a household. Children of the same sex within 5 year of age, share a room. 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 one and a half baths. Can I have a garage or carport added to a Habitat house?HAHFH does not build garages or carports. We purchase lots that are large enough to build a house with a parking pad, but there is not additional room for these other features. If I own land, can Habitat build a house on it?

If you own land in Cabell County, WV or Lawrence County, OH, we might be able to construct a home on it, but our construction staff will need to evaluate it. More importantly, you will need to apply to and be approved for our homeownership program in the exact same manner as all other applicants. Only after you’ve met our homeownership program criteria will we look at this possibility. How does Habitat decide where to build? Can I ask for a specific location? HAHFH acquires land either through purchase or donation so 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 need to choose a location based on the current/upcoming construction sites at the time they apply. 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 18-24 months after their initial application is submitted.