Qualifications

Need for Housing

Habitat Charlotte Region’s vision is a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live and the need for housing looks different for everyone.​

• Living in overcrowded or substandard housing; overcrowded is defined as more than 2 children sharing a room, 2 children of the same gender sharing a room, children sharing a room with adults, and/or multiple adults sharing a room​
• Being a resident of public housing, housing assistance program, or renting a room from a friend or family member​
• Paying more than 30% of your gross monthly income (pre-tax) on rent​
• Your median credit score is less than 650
• Cannot be a homeowner at the time of application

Ability to Pay

The ability for you to afford your mortgage is essential to qualifying for a Habitat home. We want you to thrive and flourish in your new home for years to come.​

To financially qualify for Habitat’s Homebuyer program:

• Income must be stable, and applicants must have a minimum annual income of $40,000 and a maximum of 80% on HUD’s Area Median Income guidelines. Click HERE to view HUD income charts for Gaston Counties.​
• Two years of continuous employment; you must be at your current job for one year OR at least three months if you left your previous job for better pay or benefits.​
• No more than $1,200 delinquent debt (past due accounts, collections, judgments, liens, and/or repossessions) at the time of application​
• No more than $15,000 in medical collections​
• No more than $1,000 in outstanding debt (revolving credit, lines of credit, or unsecured debts/loans). This calculation does not include Secured Loans such as Student Loans or Auto Loans.​
• Any bankruptcy must have been discharged for at least two years at the time of application.​
• Must meet our minimum Debt-to-Income Requirement that allows you to afford all monthly debts with more than 12 months of payments remaining, along with an estimated mortgage payment.

Willingness to Partner

Purchasing a home through Habitat Charlotte Region doesn’t require the same down payment a mortgage on the open market typically does. Instead of a down payment, Habitat families agree to partner with Habitat by:

• Performing 150-250 Homebuyer in-Process (HIP) Volunteer hours, which includes education hours, construction hours, and community engagement opportunities.​
• Living and/or working in Mecklenburg County (with the exception of Mint Hill and Matthews), Iredell County, or Gaston County for at least the last 12 months.​
• Committing to a drug-free community

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I expect the process to take?

• Depending on your determined Pathway, the timing can vary. Most participants complete their homeownership journey with Habitat Charlotte Region in 2 years.

What if I am not approved?

• If applicants do not meet our criteria for homeownership, and are not selected into the program, they will receive a letter with a description of the reason and a list of HUD approved Financial Counselors or a referral to another qualified organization. Applicants who have been declined are invited to re-enter the Pathways and Partners program for assistance

Is an active email address required?

• Yes! We need program participants to have a valid and active email address in order to complete the Pathways and Partners registration process and upon completion, receive a link to apply. If you do not have an active and valid email address and need assistance, we encourage you to contact a digital navigator by calling 3-1-1.

What if I have a criminal background?

• After thorough review and evaluation, the Habitat Charlotte board approved to discontinue criminal background checks for the homebuyer and critical home repair program participants.  However, sex offender checks will still be conducted for all program participants.  This policy is effective as of December 1, 2024.

What residency status do I need to qualify?

• Approved applicants for our Homebuyer program must have Legal residence in the U.S. proven by a Permanent Resident Card, Naturalization Document or Birth Certificate or are a natural born citizen. However, anyone can participate in the Pathways and Partners program.

Is there someone I can speak to about the application process?

• Absolutely. For questions or concerns regarding the application process, please email hbapplications@habitatCLTregion.org.

Starting your application

For full details on our financial education and homebuyer program and how to apply click the button below.