How does Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay operate?

• ​Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay (HfHMB) builds shelter, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership for eligible families. 

• Households in Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay that qualify for our homeownership program will apply, build, purchase, and move into a new home at an affordable price.

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How are the applicants selected?​

• Applicants will submit a complete pre-application when available. Upon initial requirements being met, eligible applicants will be invited to complete a full application where we will also ask you to gather additional documents and information needed to confirm that the applicants meet all requirements.​

• Applicants are selected based on their need for housing, ability to pay, and willingness to partner with HfHMB.

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What are the requirements and criteria?​

• HfHMB partners with qualified applicants who meet the following criteria:​

  • In need of improved housing​

    • Housing costs exceed more than 30% of your monthly income

    • Current living conditions are overcrowded, inadequate or inaccessible, unhealthy or poorly built, damaged by natural disasters, etc.

    • Applicants Annual Gross Income is between 50% - 80% of Area Median Income (click here)

  • Ability to pay an affordable mortgage​

    • Income source(s) are steady and verifiable

    • Ability to pay a long-term mortgage​, a down payment of $1,500, and 1-2% of the mortgage in closing costs

    • Those mortgage payments are then cycled back into the community to help build more affordable homes.

  •  Willingness to partner with Habitat​

    • Habitat homebuyers put in 500 hours of "sweat equity" helping build their own home and the homes of others in the program.​

    • Sweat equity includes helping at the construction site, home maintenance, and other topics to help ensure capability for the demands of homeownership.

  • Must be a first-time homebuyer​​​

    • No homeownership in a principal residence in the last 3 years​​

  • Must be a legal permanent resident or citizen of the United States ​

    • Proof of residency is required when submitting an application​

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Are there income limits for eligibility? 

• HfHMB partners with very-low to low-income families earning 50% to 80% of Santa Cruz's area median income. ​

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How much does a Habitat home cost?

• Habitat houses cannot be determined until the house is complete. ​No matter what the price of those, Habitat is committed to keeping housing payments affordable and set at 30% of their household gross monthly income at the time of sale.

• This monthly amount will include the mortgage payment, property taxes, interest (if applicable), and HOA dues.

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Will background checks be conducted?​​​

• Yes. HfHMB does background checks on all household members over the age of 18.​

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I've volunteered in the past with HfHMB, does this mean I'm automatically qualified?​

• All applicants must go through the application process and any past volunteer work with HfHMB does not exempt applicants from needing to do so.​

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How long does the Homeownership process take?​​​

• The process length varies from applicant to applicant. A variety of factors impact how long the process of becoming a Habitat Homeowner takes including housing availability, meeting eligibility requirements, the volume of pre-applications received by Habitat, and completion of required documents provided by the applicant.  

• Habitat will keep applicants informed of where they are in the process along the way.