WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity builds homes in partnership with qualifying partner families and our community. We then sell the homes to partnering families at no profit with affordable, income-based mortgages.
The window for home applications has been changed to February and October of each year. Applications can be submitted at those times for processing. If you want to put your name on a notification list please email your information to info@wlshabitat.org and we will send an email when the next application window opens up.
Are You Ready to Create a Safe, Decent, Affordable Home for Your Family in Partnership with WLS Habitat and Your Community?
Is your current home overpriced, overcrowded or in disrepair? Are you unable to obtain a conventional home loan?
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 city property maintenance standards. Also taken into consideration are the number, ages and gender of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your home.
Are you willing to help us build your new home?
Sweat equity is a core tenet of Habitat for Humanity's ministry and constitutes a significant portion of the down payment.. "Sweat equity" is when a partner family actively takes part in building their own home. It may include activities such as clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, attending homebuyer classes, and other approved activities. Sweat equity provides meaningful interaction among families, Habitat volunteers from the community, and affiliate staff. Working sweat equity hours in their own homes helps families begin the transition to ownership and family members gain a real understanding of the construction of their home and of maintenance issues they will face after occupancy when investing sweat equity at the build site.
In order to be considered for a Habitat home, a partner family must be willing to complete a 150 hours of sweat-equity per adult in the home or 250 hours if only one member over 18 years of age. Extended family members can help with some of these hours. The goal is that people are engaged and invested, yet we also recognize the need for some flexibility given particular family situations. All of the hours must be completed before the partner family can purchase the home.
Are you able to make a cash down payment, monthly mortgage payments, and monthly escrow payments to cover insurance and property taxes?
Although there can be down payment assistance resources, families (depending on their income levels) are expected to come up with cash down payments ranging between $1,500 and $3,000. This helps with closing costs to purchase a home. Ability to pay is determined by information provided and collected during the application process. Information on the paper application, pay stubs, benefit statements, previously filed federal tax returns, and credit reports are examples of the resources used to determine this ability.
Are you a resident of our service area?
Eligible partner families must have lived in Lake County, MN; Southern St. Louis County, MN or Carlton County, MN for at least 6 months prior to applying for a Habitat home.
Do you meet the income guidelines below?
Qualifying income minimums and maximums are determined by family size and are between 30-60% of the Twin Ports area median income (AMI). These guidelines are adjusted each year and are based on numbers defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These figures include all forms of income: employment, public assistance of cash, social security, disability, etc. If there are extenuating circumstances in the household (major disability, on-going significant medical bills, and so forth), we can consider going up to 80% of AMI on a case-by-case basis.
Number of People in Household Minimum* Maximum*
1: $16,050 - $32,100
2: $18,350 - $36,700
3: $20,650 - $41,300
4: $22,890 - $45,780
5: $24,750 - $49,500
6: $26,600 - $53,200
7: $28,400 - $56,800
8: $30,250 - $60,500
*Income levels are set annually by US Department of Housing & Urban Development and are 30-60% of the median income of the Duluth-Superior Metro Area. In cases with extenuating circumstances (disability, special needs), we can consider going somewhat higher on the income range, but no higher than 80% AMI.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.