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HOW TO APPLY FOR A HOME
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, the ages and the gender of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.
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 personnel.
You and your family will be considered if your annual total income is between 30-50% of the median income for Santa Fe county.
You must have lived or worked in Santa Fe County for one year.
You must be a legal resident.
Please look at the basic requirements for application listed below. If you believe that you might be qualified to purchase a Habitat home, please call our office and leave your name and phone number. A member of our Family Selection Committee will call you within a week and do a screening over the phone. If you meet the basic requirements, you will be given an application to fill out. Once the application is complete, you will be asked for financial and employment information. Later in the selection process, you may be asked to make an appointment for a home visit. During the home visit, members of our committee assess your housing need based on your current housing situation.
| Family Size | 30% Median | 50% Median |
|---|---|---|
| One | 13,850 | 23,100 |
| Two | 15,850 | 26,400 |
| Three | 17,800 | 29,700 |
| Four | 19,800 | 33,000 |
| Five | 21,400 | 35,650 |
| Six | 22,950 | 38,300 |
| Seven | 24,550 | 40,900 |
| Eight | 26,150 | 43,550 |
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 save a down payment of 1% of the cost of the house.
Requirements:
Willingness to Participate as a Partner with Habitat
- When selected, you become a "partner family." As a partner family you will be responsible for 500 hours of sweat equity. 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, working in the Habitat office and attending Homeownership Classes. Each family member signing the mortgage must complete 25% of the total required hours. The family can receive credit for the remaining sweat equity hours put in by friends and relatives who join in the work.
- You will be responsible for maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you sign the mortgage.
- After moving into your house, the Family Support Committee will maintain an ongoing relationship with you for the minimum of a six month period. This includes financial counseling and household maintenance education.
If after reviewing our guidelines for owning a Habitat home in Santa Fe, you feel you meet all of the criteria, please submit our Interest Form. Please note that the Interest Form is NOT an application for a Habitat home, but provides us with your contact information so that we can notify you when we have our Home Interest Meeting at which time you will receive an application.
Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity pledges to the letter and spirit of U.S. and N.M. policies for the achievement of equal housing. We do not eliminate applicants or discriminate because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, handicap, family status, ethnicity, national origin, or public assistance as a source of income.
