Homeownership

“Home is where one starts from”

T.S. Eliot

Building homes for a brighter future

Habitat’s path to homeownership requires hard work, time and dedication. Every home comes together with the work and dedication of many people from the community, there to support you from beginning to end.

Homeownership Program

Eastern Shore of Virginia Habitat for Humanity is committed to provide hardworking families an opportunity to build and buy their own home. We work with approved lenders to provide our families with an affordable interest free mortgage, under $500, for a 25-year term.

Our goal is to help households living on a modest income realize the financial and social benefits of homeownership, while also providing them a means to give back to their own community. Since monthly mortgage payments are used to fund the building of future Habitat homes, the Homeownership Program inspires reciprocated goodwill and generosity within our community, while providing safe and affordable homes for those in need.

Do You Qualify?
Selection Process
Sweat Equity
FAQs

Qualify for Habitat Homeownership

Like many communities in our country, the need for safe, decent, and affordable housing in is in high demand. Because of this, the application process for the Homeownership Program is a lengthy one. Applicants must reside in the Accomack and Northampton counties and meet the 3 core qualifications:

Demonstrate A Need

for safe, affordable housing

Some requirements include: low to moderate income earners, living in overcrowded conditions, and paying rent that is too expensive.

Willingness To Partner

with the Habitat Program

Applicants must invest sweat equity into the building of their home and take multiple education courses.

Demonstrated Ability

to pay

Income, Budget and Outstanding Debt are just some of the determining factors considered.

Latest Home Ownership Stories

  • Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity

    Home

    #51

    Congratulations to the Matthews family owners of our 51st home, another deserving family attaining home ownership with Habitat for Humanity.

  • Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity

    Home

    #48

    House #48 became a home Sunday, 8/11/19 as Mom Lanisha, l'nayaih, Ja' Aire, and Emanee cut the ribbon and accepted the keys to their new home. She will have a no interest mortgage. Congratulations!

  • Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity

    Home

    #49

    House #49 became a home Monday, 6/15/20 as Mom Natasha, and children Laversa, Keith, Keyasho, Nasir, and Jason moved one step closer to moving into their new 4 bedroom home when Natasha signed the mortgage. All the traditional gifts including a bible were presented to the family at the closing.

Selection Process

Each January, Eastern Shore of Virginia Habitat For Humanity advertises in local papers and on social media that the application process is open. If the resources allow, the selection committee will select two Habitat families to build for each year.

Applicants are required to attend an introductory meeting. Those that do not attend the meeting, or meet the qualification are no longer considered.

The selection committee is comprised of 3-4 board members who then interview the eligible families in their current living situation. Priority is given to those living in dangerous situations like mold, rodents, lack of proper sanitation and other factors.

Once selected, the prospective homeowners attend financial seminars and begin work on 350 hours of Sweat Equity, which can include working on other homes, as well as their own. They can also volunteer their time working at Habitat events and on special projects.

Completed applications must be submitted and vetted for the following:
•debt history •verification of employment •criminal complaints

What is
Sweat Equity?

At Habitat, sweat equity is a new homeowner investing in their home or one for another family. It’s not a form of payment, but an opportunity to work alongside volunteers to bring to life a family’s dream of owning a home.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Read some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Habitat for Humanity and its work around the community and the world.

Through the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and donors, Habitat builds safe, efficient homes alongside homeowner partner families. Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their homes and the homes of other Habitat families. The Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed through affordable, no- or low-interest loans. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments are put towards building more Habitat homes.

No. Habitat for Humanity celebrates the act of giving by offering each homeowner a no- or low-interest loan on a home built through volunteer labor and donations of money or materials.

Qualifying families must first apply at their local Habitat affiliate. Homeowners are then chosen by the affiliate’s family selection committee based on their level of need and their willingness to participate in the program, as well as their ability to pay a mortgage. Every Habitat affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy when it comes to selection, and neither race nor religion is a determining factor in choosing the recipient family.

Donations stay in our local community and are sold through our Restore to the public. The funds raised by the Restore go towards building more houses. All monetary or material donations that are designated to a specific affiliate or building project, are forwarded to that affiliate or project. Undesignated gifts are used where most needed and for administrative expenses

There are many opportunities to volunteer at your local Habitat. From building to fund raising, to working in the Restore, there’s a place for everyone. You can even travel to volunteer with other affiliates. Volunteer efforts can be long term, or as part of a group or for a special event. Contact your local Habitat to learn how you can volunteer today!

Habitat for Humanity homes look different around the world, with many styles and traditions to fit in where they are being built. But no matter where the houses are built, all Habitat homes follow the same guiding principles; decent, safe, and affordable. In the United States, Habitat houses are typically built using a wood frame, vinyl siding, and have 3 bedrooms with no more than 1,050 square feet of living space.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-governmental and nonprofit Christian organization. We advocate for legislators and housing regulators to increase access to affordable housing and to eliminate poverty housing. We accept government funds if they have no conditions that would violate our principles or limit our ability to proclaim our Christian identity.