Become a Homeowner

Habitat partners with qualified, low-income families to provide opportunities for affordable homeownership. Many families are surprised to learn they can own their own home by partnering with Habitat. It takes hardwork and determination, but the reward is life-changing.

Brochure

Want to learn more about the Habitat Homeownership Program?

Homeownership information Meeting

Attend one of our Group Homeownership Information Meetings to learn about our program. This one-hour meeting is a basic requirement of being accepted into the program and is offered in both English and Spanish. See the meeting schedule below for details.

Pre-Application Workshop

Do you have additional questions? We host one-on-one workshops in English and Spanish on the first Wednesday of every month from 7:00AM to 7:00PM at our North Fort Myers Office.

*Due to the Administration Office being closed for the Holidays, the one-on-one Pre-Application Workshop in January will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2020, from 7:00AM to 7:00PM.* 

This is your chance to have a member of our Family Services team review your pre-application. No appointment is necessary on workshop days, you can come in at any time during workshop hours.

Contact Habitat Family Services

If you want more information you can fill out the sign-up sheet in the lobby of our North Fort Myers Office. Include your name and phone number, and we’ll contact you within two business days.

You can also call us at (239) 652-HOME (4663) and select option two.

Ready to submit your Pre-Application?

The Habitat Homeownership Program Pre-Application is ONLY accepted from the 1st to 10th of every month during regular business hours (Tuesday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

If you’re ready to submit, please drop your pre-application into the Drop Box located in the lobby of our North Fort Myers Office. Include all completed forms and copies of required documentation.

Do you have questions about the pre-application process? Don’t forget we host workshops on the first Wednesday of every month from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at our North Fort Myers Office.

Pre-application

Homeownership Information Meetings

This one-hour session explains the program and steps to homeownership.

How Families are Chosen

Need
  • You do not already own a home
  • You are currently living in substandard housing which would include any of the following conditions:
      • Home is in poor physical condition
      • Home is overcrowded
      • Rent is subsidized
      • Rent is more than 30% of income
  • Your household gross income is below 80% of the area median income
Ability to Pay
  • You have proof of at least 2 years of steady, verifiable income
  • You do not have any judgments or liens against you
  • You do not have excessive debt or multiple accounts in collection
  • You pay your rent on time
Willingness to Partner
  • Contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity”
  • Attend Habitat homeowner training workshops
  • Pay $1,700 toward closing costs

Basic Requirements

You must have lived or worked in Lee or Hendry Counties for the past 12 months
You must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Attend an information meeting in the past 6 months
If married, you must apply with your spouse
You must wait 3 years after foreclosure or bankruptcy has been finalized
You must have two years of verifiable income and the ability to repay the mortgage
Copy of Habitat Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I submit a pre-application?

Habitat’s Homeownership Program Pre-Applications are ONLY accepted from the 1st to 10th of every month during regular business hours (Tuesday-Friday from 6:30am to 5pm).

Please drop your pre-application into the Pre-Application Drop Box located in the lobby of our administrative office in North Fort Myers. You must include all completed forms, copies of required documents and a $20 check or money order to cover the credit report fee (sorry, no cash or credit/debit cards accepted).

When and where are the homeowner information meetings held?

Attending one of our Group Homeownership Information Meetings is one of the basic requirements before being accepted into the homeowner program. It’s offered in both English and Spanish. See the meeting schedule for details.

You do not need to attend this meeting in order to obtain a pre-application or before submitting a pre-application, but it’s a great way to get information about the application process and program requirements before applying.

Can I speak to a Habitat staff member one-on-one to get more information about the program?

If you would like to speak with one of our staff members, you can attend our One-on-One Pre-Application Workshops held on the first Wednesday of every month from 7am to 7pm at our North Fort Myers Office. We will have English and Spanish speaking staff available to meet with you. You do not need to make an appointment. Meetings are held first come, first served during workshop hours.

Can I have someone review my pre-application with me before I submit it?

If you would like one of our staff members to review your pre-application with you before you submit it, you can attend our One-on-One Pre-Application Workshops held on the first Wednesday of every month from 7am to 7pm at our North Fort Myers Office. We will have English and Spanish speaking staff available to meet with you. You do not need to make an appointment. Meetings are held first come, first served during workshop hours.

* Please note that staff can review your application for completeness only.  They are not able to tell you whether you qualify or if you will be approved.

Where can I find the list of homes available?

We have homes available in different areas in Lee and Hendry Counties. Please come to our office to get the most updated Home Selection Form that lists the addresses and a brief description of the property (new construction or rehabilitated home, number or rooms, floorplan, exterior finish, etc.).

How many homes may I select on the Home Selection Form?

Please select all the homes for which you would like your pre-application considered. The more homes you select, the greater the chance that there will be enough inventory when your pre-application is reviewed.

What if I don’t find a home on the selection form that I like?

We only accept pre-applications for the homes that are listed in the Home Selection Form. If you are not interested in applying for any of the homes currently listed, please check back regularly as this form is updated as homes become available.

If my pre-application is denied, when can I reapply?

You may submit a new pre-application at any time. We encourage you to open a counseling file with one of our housing advisors who can help to better prepare you to qualify for homeownership.

When will I find out if I’ve been selected to become a future homeowner?

You will get an update on your pre-application within 30 days.

How long will it take before I can move into a Habitat home once I am selected?

It may take several months before you can move into your Habitat home. You will need to satisfy all your partnership requirements while our construction team partners with you and other volunteers to build your home. There are several factors that go into your partnership schedule as well as the construction schedule. While we will do our best to keep you up-to-date on the schedules, there are sometimes circumstances which can cause them to change.

Dedicated to Success

We are dedicated to the success of our Habitat homeowners and to that end, have compiled a list of Homeowner Resources to help them.

Using the skills they learn in the educational classes, and applying themselves diligently to making their mortgage payments every month, many of our homeowners pay off their mortgages. To celebrate their accomplishment, we host a Mortgage Burning Ceremony.

Talk to a Housing Counselor

Preparing to purchase a home can be intimidating and overwhelming. Our Homeownership Advisors are here to help. You can talk with one of our knowledgeable advisors about the home buying process and how to organize your finances.

For more information call (239) 652-HOME (4663)