Looking to buy an affordable home?
Habitat partners with eligible and qualified buyers for the opportunity to build and own a Habitat Home.
This is real homeownership. Habitat Homeowners pay an affordable mortgage, pay property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, repair and maintain their homes, and most importantly earn equity and build both physical and financial stability.
While we are not currently accepting applications for our Homeownership Program, we encourage all those interested to review the information below to determine if Habitat Homeownership is right for you and to be prepared for the next application period.
Stay in the know.
Sign up today to receive updates about our Homeownership Program and information about opportunities for homeowner and financial education.
We encourage all those interested in applying for the Habitat Homeownership Program to review our application instructions and FAQ to determine if you a Habitat home is right for you!
By reviewing these, you also help ensure that you meet the requirements and that you have all the materials to complete your application in the future.
Is Habitat Homeownership Right for You?
Important Considerations
The Homeownership Program is not emergency housing
From application to home purchase, the Homeownership Program can take as long as 12-24 months. The length of time depends on a lot of factors such as construction and financing.
If your current housing is at risk, we recommend reaching out to other local organizations that can meet a more urgent housing need.
Habitat Homes are not custom homes
Habitat Homes are built simply and often with donated time and materials. While you may have some choice options (such as colors, style), the focus will be on building an affordable home that meets your family’s needs.
Home size and plan will be decided based on the number of people in your household, what you can afford and the building location available.
We are only able to build homes when and where we have the resources available. We are currently only building at our Pumpkin Lane Development in the City of Chelan.
How to Apply
Application Review
Applications are available during ONLY during open application periods and can be downloaded on our website or picked up at the Habitat Store. Open application periods will be announced on our website, social media, and KOZI radio.
Once you submit your application, our office will screen your application for completeness and that you meet the Basic Requirements. Within 30 days we will send you a letter letting you know if you meet the requirements OR if we need more information.
If you meet the Basic Requirements we will schedule an appointment for an income and credit review, and to verify other information such as your identity and a background check. We may also arrange a home visit to verify any housing conditions on your applications.
Homeowner Selection
Applicants who pass the Application Review will be passed along with other qualified applicants for review by our Board of Directors for final review. All qualified applicants will be notified following the completion of the selection process whether they are chosen or not.
If you are selected
If you are selected by our Board for our Homeownership Program, you will be asked to sign a Partnership Agreement with Lake Chelan Habitat. The Partnership agreement is not a contract. It merely states a mutual willingness between the prospective homeowner and Habitat to participate in the Homeownership Program. Its purpose is to confirm your intention to buy the home once Habitat completes it and your willingness to partner with Habitat. It also confirm’s Habitat’s intention to work with you to complete a decent affordable house.
If you are NOT selected
If you are not selected for the Homeownership Program during this application period, we encourage you to apply again in the future. Many of our most successful Habitat Homeowners were selected after their 2nd or even 3rd application. Our staff will do our best to help you determine what you can improve on your application or in your financial situation and possible resources to help you reach your goals.
The path to homeownership
Partnership
Once you have chosen to partner with Habitat you will begin completing your volunteer hours and homeowner’s education classes. If during your application, we found areas where you need to improve your credit or financial situation we will help you work on that. Volunteer hours may be in the construction (or repair) of your home or the home of other, in the Habitat Store, or with other community organizations.
Construction
Habitat will begin construction on the home using your assistance and the assistance of volunteers where possible. When the home is done you will complete a mortgage application for the home and we will look at your finances again.
Home purchase
Once your mortgage is approved, you will purchase the home by signing all closing documents. You will begin making monthly payments on your home. After all the payments are made (usually 30 years) the home is YOURS.
Have questions or need help with your application?
We’d love to help. Please reach out to our office if you have questions about our Homeownership Program. You can also reach our office at 509.888.1573. Please be aware that Habitat Store Staff and volunteers are unable to answer questions about eligibility for a Habitat home or application status.
Equal Housing Opportunity
Lake Chelan Valley Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity housing provider. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the law and provide a program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
