Affordable Homeownership
Home Buying Partnership
Habitat of Greater Fort Wayne walks alongside qualified families through a holistic home buying process. Families partner with us based on the criteria below and must complete a variety of requirements with a focus on creating sustainable homeowners.
Our Application Process is currently closed.
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Program Requirements
Qualified families partner with Habitat based on their:
- Qualified applicants must meet the income guidelines, based on gross (pre-tax) income per year (see below)
- All collections and judgements must be explainable and resolvable prior to closing on the home
- At least 2 years after a bankruptcy
- At least 2 years after a foreclosure
- Debt-to-income ratios are reviewed to determine affordability
- Qualified applicants must have a financial need and/or are currently living in sub-standard housing
- Must be willing to complete required sweat equity hours
- Attend homeowner education classes
- Consent to background checks & sex offender registry check
- Pay $1,000 toward the purchase of your home
Partnership Details
General Income Guidelines
Guidelines subject to change.
Allen County Income Guidelines
Huntington County Income Guidelines
FAQs
Program Summary
Habitat is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating sub-standard housing. Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne has built over 261 affordable, quality built homes for families in our community. The Habitat program allows families to purchase a stable and decent home with an affordable mortgage. Proceeds from monthly payments help build more homes in Allen, Huntington and Wells counties.
Qualified families invest time in what we call Sweat Equity – by taking classes to prepare them for homeownership, working on Habitat build sites, and eventually, helping to build their very own home. We are not a custom home builder and have pre-set house designs and build locations.
Please consider Habitat’s application guidelines on this page. Any applicant who does not meet these criteria will not be approved.
What is Sweat Equity?
Sweat Equity is the time your family must invest in Habitat by attending homeownership classes, volunteering at our ReStore, volunteering on Habitat builds, and eventually helping to build your very own home.
An applicant must complete up to 250 hours of sweat equity.
Are there any fees to apply?
There is a $15 fee to fill out the full application during the second step in our process but there is no acceptance fee. Applicants will have some costs associated with closing fees as well.
Where are you building homes?
For the 2022-2023 season we are building in Southeast Fort Wayne neighborhoods.
How many bedrooms/bathrooms?
Home specifications vary from 1,100 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, up to 1,400 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (for qualifying families with a verifiable need for more space). Locations and house specifications will be predetermined by Habitat, and applicants are not guaranteed the opportunity to choose a specific lot or home.
Questions?
Contact Habitat GFW by emailing info@habitatgfw.com or call 260.422.4828 for any questions about our program.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization.