Habitat for Humanity uses volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials to build and rehabilitate houses with the help of future homeowners. Houses are sold to families at no profit and are financed through affordable, no interest mortgages that are paid over many years. The homeowner's monthly mortgage payments support the construction or rehabilitation of more houses.

1. You will be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is not adequate, and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means. Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure; water, electrical or sewage service systems; heating system, or failure to meet county property maintenance standards. Also taken into consideration are the number, the ages and the sex of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.
   
   
2. The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered to determine need. You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation with Habitat Interviewers.
   
   
3. You and your family will be considered if your annual total income is between 50-70% of the median income for Culpeper County.

Ability to Pay

Since you will actually be buying your house from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment. This payment will include not only the mortgage payment, but the payment for real estate taxes and insurance. We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses. We can also help you if you need to develop a budget to determine your eligibility. The family will be expected to make a down payment of 1% of the cost of the house.

Requirements:

 You must have lived in Culpeper County or Town for one year.

 You must be a legal resident.

Willingness to Participate as a Partner with Habitat

1. When selected, you become a "partner family". As a partner family you will be responsible for 250-350 hours of sweat equity; 250 hours for households headed by one adult, 350 hours with more than one adult. This sweat equity may be accomplished in construction of your house and the houses of others and may include clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, providing food for volunteers, and attending Home-ownership Classes. One hundred hours may be put in by friends and relatives who join in the work.
   
   
2. You will be responsible for maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you close on the house.

Application Process

If you would like to apply to become a Family Partner for Habitat for Humanity home ownership, please fill out the Home Interest Form. Your name will be placed on our Family Selection waiting list. When we have land on which to build, or a home to rehabilitate, we will invite everyone on our waiting list to an orientation where you will be given an application. All applications will be evaluated at the same time with regards to need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner.