There are three basic criteria to qualify for a Kansas City Habitat home:
•    Need for Shelter (Must be a first-time homebuyer or must not have owned a home within the past three years)
•    Willingness to Partner (Willing to complete an application honestly, fully, & completely, including providing copies of all supporting documentation)
•    Ability to Pay (Must have at least a two-year history of steady income high enough that housing costs are not a burden)

Additional requirements include:
•    Must attend a family information session to receive an application.
•    Must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident.
•    Must be willing to partner with us and help us with our program.
•    Have one year of good rental history.
•    Good (acceptable) credit history or no credit history.
•    Ability to work 350 hours of "sweat equity".
•    Ability to pay $1,100 in mortgage escrow.
•    Ability to pay a mortgage of approximately $400-$450/month.

Partner Family Commitment
Approved families are able to buy their Habitat house with a no-money down 20 to 30-year mortgage. They do, however, have to invest 350 hours of "sweat equity" in the construction of their new home or other Habitat homes. They also pay $1,100 in escrow to cover the cost of taxes and insurance for the first year in their new home.

What is "Sweat Equity"?
"Sweat equity" is work done by partner families on their own house and in helping to build other Habitat houses. Families earn these hours by doing construction on their own house, working in the ReStore, attending homeowner education classes, and helping build other houses or other approved Habitat work projects.

How do I apply?
Applications for Habitat houses are are accepted all year round and can be picked up at the reception desk at our office.  Please note that there are several documents that need to be submitted along with your application.  It is strongly recommended that you make copies of everything before submitting your final, completed application.  These copies cannot be made at the Habitat KC office.