Home Ownership Program
Applications are closed at this time
Application Cycle
Everyone in your household over 18 years old must attend, and must bring immigration documents (if applicable), a photo ID, and if they have filed bankruptcy they need to bring their bankruptcy discharge papers. Call our office at (540)-828-6288 with questions.
Mortgages for Habitat Homes
No profit is made and no interest is added to the mortgage.
Payments are low and affordable.
You need to save money for a small down payment and / or closing costs.
You will be required to help build your house and help build houses for others.
Initial Qualifications
To begin the application process families must meet initial qualifications in order to apply. When you arrive at our office, we will ask you if you meet the following initial criteria:
Permanent Resident or Citizen of the United States at time of application
Resident living in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County for at least one year
Source of income
Willing to submit to a credit check
Willing to partner with Habitat to work on your home
Qualification Process
We take applications in cycles, which we announce through email, social media, and our website.
Some application cycles may be for certain areas of Harrisonburg City or Rockingham County only.
The first step is to fill out a Credit Release Authorization form, which our Family Selection committee reviews. We are not evaluating your credit score, but looking at your financial history.
After this step, you will complete a more thorough application which is again, reviewed by the committee.
Next, a committee member will schedule a home visit to make an assessment of your current home.
If you meet all of the qualifications, your application will be recommended to the Board for approval.
Once a family becomes a Habitat partner family, they help Habitat construct a simple, sustainable, energy efficient home. The house is built with the help of volunteer labor under trained supervision. Your house will be financed by Central Valley Habitat with a no-profit, no-interest loan.
“Sweat Equity”
“Sweat Equity” is required to become a Habitat homeowner. This means working side by side with volunteers on your house and other prospective Habitat homeowner houses.
You must work 400 hours if your family has two adults, or 200 hours for a single-adult family.
Family and friends may contribute up to 30% of your required sweat equity hours.
Hours can be earned in a variety of ways: Habitat office work, special events, homeowner education classes, and helping with construction of your house and other Habitat homes.
A family sponsor will help explain these opportunities to you.
Our Impact
