Habitat for Humanity offers a homebuyer program to qualified low-income individuals and families in the Fox Cities. Habitat extends a 0% interest mortgage loan. Monthly mortgage payments include repayment to Habitat for the home (principal), as well as for property taxes and home insurance (escrow).
Habitat Homebuyer Readiness Info Sessions will tell you the info you need about buying a home with Habitat. We have readiness info sessions two times per year. Our next session will be in the spring of 2022.
Download and print the Applicant Guidelines by clicking on the button below.
To receive a video with detailed instruction about applying and preparing for the homebuyer program, please fill out the form below.
Qualified applicants will need to meet the Selection Criteria and other requirements listed below.
Applicants must be in need of housing due to any of the following situations:
Habitat will evaluate applicants’ household income and debt. Applicants must be comfortable with a monthly mortgage payment that would be set at 25% of your gross monthly income. Applicants must have enough income through stable employment or other forms of permanent income to afford a home and all basic living expenses.
Income includes all wages, unemployment (only if related to seasonal employment), social security, pension and/or disability. Self-employment income is defined as the net profit. Income can also include child support, kinship care and other types of income which is received on a regular basis and is needed to cover monthly expenses. All income sources are included when they are expected to last for 3 years or longer.
2020-2021 Income Guidelines are based on family size. Your gross annual income must be at or above the minimum and at or below the maximum.
| Family Size | Minimum | Maximum |
| 1 | $27,000 | $36,000 |
| 2 | $27,000 | $41,100 |
| 3 | $27,700 | $46,300 |
| 4 | $27,700 | $51,400 |
| 5 | $27,700 | $55,350 |
| 6 | $29,800 | $59,600 |
| 7 | $31,900 | $63,750 |
| 8 | $33,900 | $67,800 |
| 9 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 10 | $38,050 | $76,050 |
Applicants’ credit history does not need to be perfect. Many applicants have some debt. Is it important for applicants to know how much is owed and for the total amount of debt to be manageable.
Applicants must be willing to work in partnership with Habitat with their positive and active involvement in the Homebuyer Sweat Equity Program. Applicants must be willing to complete 300 to 500 hours of sweat equity by attending classes and workshops, working at the Habitat ReStore, participating in Habitat or ReStore events, and building on other homes as well as their own.
*Accommodations for health and employment issues will be made on a case by case basis
Individuals interested in home ownership through Habitat will need to complete and submit a pre-application document along with a $30 application fee (one fee per application) when pre-applications are open.
Pre-applications will be available September 8-22, 2021 (click the link at the top to access. ***Pre-applications are only available during open periods) and also available in a container attached to our Little Free Library at our office at 921 Midway Road in Menasha during the application period only***
Pre-application steps to complete:
General Release Other Household Members
*Every adult (over 18 years) must sign a general release form. All married couples must sign a joint release form.
*Pre-Applications submitted electronically or without pre-application fee will be considered incomplete.
Our Family Services staff can work with you to find where you are at in your home-ownership journey and provide appropriate resources.
For email inquiries: HomeBuyer@foxcitieshabitat.org.