Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County partners with families and individuals to help them build and purchase a safe and affordable home when they otherwise might not be able to.
Ever wonder what partnering with Habitat means and looks like? Watch this 2023 news segment from WKTV News Channel 2.
Are you interested in working with Habitat to own a home of your own?
How to apply for a Habitat house:
- Be sure you know when the open application periods are:
Our Spring 2024 open application period for potential homeowners runs from Feb. 15 – Mar. 30. - Review the eligibility criteria below.
- If this seems like you, then:
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- Print out the Homeowner Interest Sheet or request one be emailed or mailed to you by contacting us at the information below. (This is the first step, not yet an official application.)
- Fill it out and send it back to us via email or mail.
- We will be in touch about your next steps after we’ve had time to review your interest sheet. We are happy to answer any questions or have a more detailed one-on-one conversation about the application and homeowner process with interested individuals and families.
We are here to help – please email us at habitatotsego@gmail.com or call us at 607-432-7874 and we will schedule a time to talk, review the requirements and answer your questions.
Partnership is the keyword to our approach. We help every step of the way.
The Application may seem scary, BUT NEVER FEAR! There is help for you if you need it. Contact us at the info above and we will help you work through it.
- We will meet with each viable family in person to explain the process and help with the application.
- Once the application is complete, we’ll meet you at your current home to do an inspection and evaluate your need for better housing.
- Next, the Homeowner Selection Committee will review and rate applications, looking at those families with the biggest need, and who have adequately provided all necessary information.
- Then the Committee will present the highest rated applications to the Board of Directors for their decision. We will notify applicants of the Board decisions via US Mail.
Homes are not given to partners, they purchase them with a low-interest loan. However the purchase is subsidized by Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County. We provide training on basic skills as well as support through the loan application, home ownership education, and financing/closing process.
Four Key Eligibility Criteria:
- Living in substandard housing:
A need for housing because you are living in unaffordable, sub-standard, unsafe, unsanitary, or overcrowded living quarters. For example, if you are renting a residence that has safety hazards that are unattended to by landlords, the space is too small for your family, the rent is so costly it is preventing you from saving money, or you are spending more than 50% of your income on rent. - A willingness to partner with us and help build other Habitat homes during your homebuying process:
All partner families must contribute “sweat equity” by helping to build your own and other partners’ houses. 250 sweat equity hours for a single adult partner/family. 500 sweat equity hours for a partner family with two adults. (No special skills required.) Once 20% of sweat equity goal is met, your friends and extended family can help you meet your goal. - Be unable to acquire a standard bank mortgage:
Income and credit guidelines. Partner homeowners are individuals or families with a sustainable income between 35% – 65% of the average median income for Otsego County. - Living or working in Otsego County for at least one year.
Applicants must be living or working in Otsego County, NY for at least one year.
Other consideration: applicants should not have substantial debt so you can qualify for a low-interest mortgage.
Full details on income guidelines, and more are provided on the Homeowner Interest Sheet.
Next Steps:
If you meet the requirements, we will help you with follow up verification forms, background checks, mortgage applications, and more. We will help you every step of the way in becoming the owner of your very own house! Our low cost of labor helps us sell our modern, safe houses to partners at an extremely affordable price.
It takes about two years from the time an applicant is accepted to get to closing and move-in. This allows time for partners to prepare for home ownership, complete the mortgage qualification and application process, as well as time for a house to be built.
Homeowner education and basic home maintenance lessons are also provided to partners. All that is asked in return is a commitment to be active partners in the process and to help on current building sites.
Your dream of owning a home can come true. Reach out to find out how!
What do current homeowners have to say?
“You get to learn about the different ways to run a home and own a home. The sweat equity makes you feel proud because you did something for you, plus something for somebody else and other families too.” – Homeowner Jayme McCoy
“I didn’t believe that I’d qualify and someone told me I’d have nothing to lose by filling out the paperwork. When I heard back that I did qualify, I was delighted, I was ecstatic!” – Homeowner Betsy Brown
“There is something extra-special about putting our sweat and work into the house. Especially since there were volunteers and other partner families around us—it felt like we were a part of a team. No one was making a commission off of us. The people at HFHOC are some of the most welcoming, happiest, and loving people. It is amazing to know someone wants you to succeed and for your family to keep moving forward. We had people to ask questions to and were real life savers during the process.”
– Fray Haile, child of Habitat homeowner Kbra Tewolde.
Read more about the Tewolde-Haile family’s journey to homeownership in our Spring 2022 Newsletter.
Mythbusters
Habitat gives Houses Away
No Way!
The truth: We only give away an opportunity to partner with Habitat. Working with accepted families, we build decent, energy-efficient, and safe houses. Accepted partner families work with us building a home, but they then pay a low-interest mortgage on their own. We We adjust the sale price of the house so that a so that a partner family’s mortgage is no more than 30% of their income.
Habitat homeowners are on welfare.
Wrong Again!
The truth: Habitat Families pay for their homes. They are working families whose income doesn’t qualify them for a conventional mortgage.
Habitat homes are available now.
Unfortunately, No.
The truth: Habitat usually builds one home a year. It takes approximately two years for a partner family to assist in building their home (see Physical Work – Sweat Equity) as well as to obtain a mortgage.
Habitat was created by former President, Jimmy Carter
Nope!
The truth: Habitat’s creator (Millard Fuller) was in Carter’s Sunday-school class as a child, and later created Habitat to help families create decent housing. The Carter’s past extensive involvement has continued to call attention to the Habitat for Humanity cause.