Housing Programs
Program Outline
South Haven Area Habitat for Humanity offers a hand up, not a hand out, to low-income families who seek affordable home ownership.
We build simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with our home buyer families and thousands of volunteers. We sell these homes to qualified home buyers and provide a no-interest mortgage. We do not profit from the sale of our homes.
Financing Basics
20 habitat homes have been completed in the South Haven area.
Habitat for Humanity offers approved applicants 0% financing on their home mortgage. Monthly payments (including property taxes and insurance) on a 30-year, 0% interest mortgage currently average between $450 and $500. Property tax rates and insurance premiums will vary for each home and homeowner. Mortgage principal payments are recycled to build more Habitat homes.
Homeownership is a significant, long-term financial commitment with many rewards and benefits and offers security and stability to families who are financially responsible. Home buyers enter into a legal contract with SHAHH and all Habitat homeowners to faithfully repay their mortgage and support construction of more Habitat homes in the community.
Qualifications for partnership include:
- The need for better housing and desire to own a home.
- The ability to repay the Habitat mortgage loan.
- The willingness to partner with Habitat.
- Home buyer families must complete 250 – 400 hours of sweat equity (depending on the number of adults in the family) by attending homeownership and financial literacy classes, building Habitat homes, and participating in Habitat events and functions.
- Home buyers must also meet Habitat’s Income Guidelines.
Selection
The SHAHH Family Selection Committee selects home buyers to match Habitat’s annual home production schedule. Completing the home buyer program from application to purchase of a home may take 12 – 18 months or longer.
Equal Housing Opportunity Guarantee
All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic or religous background, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, height, weight or disability.
Resources and Links:
If you are interested in learning more about this program, please check out the links below. If the links do not work, or you have any questions, please contact us.