Habitat for Humanity provides a unique opportunity for hardworking families to help build and buy their own homes. We work with WSHFC approved lenders to provide our homebuyers with an affordable mortgage based off their income so that the monthly mortgage payment (which includes property taxes, interest, association dues, homeowner’s insurance and association fees, if applicable) is no more than 30% of the homeowner’s total monthly income at the time of sale. If the homebuyer cannot afford to pay the full price of the home, Habitat for Humanity helps the homebuyer find Down Payment Assistance and provides subsidy financing for the remaining amount.

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, or national origin.

If you are an applicant with a disability and need accommodations to access any of our services, please contact the Homeowner Services Department at 206.855.5193. TTY relay services are available by dialing 711.

Overview: Applying to our homeownership program will take time. It can take 3-4 months to complete the application process. Additionally, after you are approved into the program, it can take roughly another 6-12 months before you can move into your home. This is due to a number of factors including the time it takes to complete the 250 hours of sweat equity and the time it takes to complete construction. Below we outline the different phases of the application process.

Step 1 – Information Meeting: Register for an information meeting. This meeting is required for all applicants. At this meeting, you will learn about the homeownership program. To learn about when our upcoming information meetings are, sign up for the mailing list below.

Step 2 – Complete Your Application: Once you submit the full online application complete with all supporting documents, it will be reviewed to determine if you are initially qualified. If you pass the initial review, your file will be sent through underwriting. If you do not pass the review, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining why.

Step 3 – Underwriting: Applications that have passed the initial review are sent through underwriting to establish your affordability. If you pass this phase, you will be invited to a homebuyer interview. If you do not pass underwriting, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining why.

Step 4 – Homebuyer Interview: The homebuyer interview is given by 2-3 Habitat volunteers. We ask that you bring everyone who will be living in the home if possible. The interview is meant to get to know our applicants better and make sure they understand the program. It is also a chance for the applicants to ask questions about the program. After the interview, we will go over your affordability documents that you will take with you to a lender to get pre-qualified for a mortgage.

Step 5 – Pre-Qualification: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County is not a lending service; you will have to find your own lender. You will be asked to get pre-qualified for a mortgage from a Washington State Housing Finance Commission approved lender.

Step 6 – Family Selection Committee Approval: Once you are pre-qualified from a lender, your application will go to our Family Selection Committee for approval. If you are approved, your application will go to our Senior Leadership Team for final approval.

Step 7 – Final Approval: Once your file is approved by our Family Selection Committee, your application will go to our Senior Leadership Team for final approval. If you are approved, you will be notified by your interviewers from Step 4 that you have been welcomed into the program.

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County will start another round of selection in late summer. If you are interested in receiving updates about future available communities and information meetings, sign up for our mailing list. Email notifications will be sent to those on this list when information meetings are scheduled.

Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King County believes and insists on nondiscriminatory family selection criteria for all homeowner applicants.  Homebuyers applying to Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King County must meet the following criteria:

Applicant must live or work in King County.

Applicant must be a permanent legal resident of the United States at the time of application.

Sweat Equity: An applicant must be willing to complete 250 hours of sweat equity per household. Sweat Equity is Habitat’s term for the labor that Habitat homeowners put into building their houses and the houses of their neighbors.

Households are required to complete at least 250 hours of sweat equity. They can complete their hours on our construction sites, in our stores, through homeowner education classes, or by working in our office. We can accommodate individuals with disabilities on a case by case basis.

Before making a phone call or sending an e-mail, take a look at some of the common questions people have about our homeownership program. Learn more>>

If you or someone you know is a veteran and is interested in learning more about our homeownership program, register below to attend our next information meeting. Learn more>>