Homeownership with Habitat
Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley in cooperation with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program will be selling up to 4 remodeled homes to qualified families. The 4 remodeled homes will be in Menifee and Lake Elsinore. Families will be selected for houses based on the family’s need for better housing, ability to pay, and willingness to partner with Habitat. A unique Habitat purchase condition called “sweat equity” requires families to donate volunteer labor working on their own or other Habitat houses or Habitat projects.
The following is the basic requirements and income for homeownership with Habitat for Humanity.
Requirements
- Have not owned a home in the past 3 years
- Have good credit. (Or are working toward repairing your credit)
- Must be a legal resident of the United States
- Everyone living in the home must have a Social Security number (card)
- Must be willing to live in the home long term.
Income
One of the most important criteria for selection for a Habitat home is the amount of income your family receives in one year. Please add all your yearly income and determine if it is within the amounts listed on the chart below. Income includes: wages from everyone 18 years and older, food stamps, SSI, disability, Social Security, child support, alimony, and other governmental support.
|
Family Size |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
Income-High |
$26,200 |
$29,500 |
$32,750 |
$35,400 |
$38,000 |
$40,650 |
$43,250 |
|
Income-Low |
$18,340 |
$20,650 |
$22,925 |
$24,780 |
$26,600 |
$28,455 |
$30,275 |
Your income must be within the amounts shown for your family size
If you feel you meet the above requirements and income, please call the Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley office at (951) 296-3362, and request that your name be place on our interest list. We will notify you of the next application meeting.
Below are the items you will need to gather. Start now! We know the amount of requested information seems like a lot, and it may feel too difficult to gather it all together. But we also believe that if you are well prepared and come with the items requested it will show us you are really committed to owning a Habitat for Humanity home.
Items to Gather
Below is a list of items you will need to provide. PLEASE MAKE ONLY COPIES, keep the originals:
- Copies of 2008, 2009 & 2010 Income Tax Returns (for every wage earner 18 years or older)
- Copies of 2008, 2009 & 2010 W-2 Forms (for every wage earner 18 years or older)
- Copies of last 2 months pay check stubs (for every wage earner 18 years or older)
- Copies of last 2 months check stubs (or other proof) for any other income (Social Security, SSI, alimony, child support, government assistance, etc.)
- Copies of last 2 months bank statements (both savings and checking)
- Copies of Social Security Cards (for everyone that will be living in the home)
- Copies of Driver’s License (for everyone 18 years or older, if they have one)
- Copies of proof of citizenship for everyone who will be living in the home (Birth Certificate, or U.S. Passport, or Certificate of Naturalization, etc OR Copies of Permanent Resident Card – Form I-551
- E-mail address (if you have one)
If you feel you meet the above requirements, income, and can gather all the item listed, please call the Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley office at (951) 296-3362, and request that your name be place on our interest list. We will notify you of the next application meeting.
General Homeownership Information
Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley provides homeownership opportunities in the communities of Perris, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta and Temecula. If you are interested in owning a Habitat home, please call the office at 951-296-3362 and ask to be placed on the “homeowner interest list.” When homes become available you will be notified and instructed on how to begin the application/selection process. Periods between homeownership opportunities could be a year or more.
Generally, homes are made available to families with lower but steady incomes, good credit, and that meet the following selection criteria:
Need
Families are considered for Habitat houses if their present housing is not adequate, and if adequate housing cannot be obtained through other conventional means. Lack of adequate housing might include overcrowded conditions because of family size. Taken into consideration are the number, ages, and gender of children, compared to the number of bedrooms in the family’s current home. Other factors that determine need are the percentage of monthly income that is currently spent on housing and problems with the present housing such as structure, water, electrical or sewage service systems, heating system, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards.
Ability to pay
Be able to make small down payment and monthly mortgage payments for the duration of the loan, able to maintain the home upkeep and pay trash, water, electric, telephone bills etc on time.
Willingness to partner
Must invest 500 (350 for single individuals) sweat equity hours (manual labor) in their home build, in other homes, and in other activities sponsored by Habitat to earn hours
