Apply for a Home

Print this page and take all the information with you! To complete the application electronically, please click here. You may print an application from this website (at the bottom of the page) or you may call the office at 337.8949 to have one mailed to you. Applications take 2-3 months to initially process.  The family selection committee reviews the application, calls for a credit check, and then notifies the family with one of three answers: a) they do not meet the minimum threshold for application, b) they did not supply enough information about themselves and asks for additional background material, or c) they are invited in for an interview.   Please do not call during this 2-3 month period as it will not speed up your paperwork.

How do I get a house?

You will be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is not adequate, and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means.  Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure; water, electrical or sewage service systems; heating system, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards.  Also taken into consideration are the number, the ages and the sex of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.

The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered to determine need.  You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation with Habitat Interviewers.

You and your family will be considered if your annual total income is between 25%-50% of the median income for the three counties.

Residency
-You must have lived in Cedar, Johnson, or Iowa Counties for one year.
-You must be a legal resident.

Ability to Pay
-Since you will actually be buying your house from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment.  This payment will include not only the mortgage payment, but the payment for real estate taxes and insurance.  We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses.  We can also help you if you need to develop a budget to determine your eligibility.

When we finish the home you will receive an interest free loan from Habitat for Humanity.  Habitat does not make any profit on the sale of the home to you.  However, you will also sign a 15 year second mortage for the difference in the cost vs. the fair market value.  This second mortgage begins to be forgiven in year 8 at 1/7 per year.  By year 15 it disappears.  If you have to move in the first  seven years you will be paid back whatever you paid toward the principal and Habitat will buy the home back from you.  If you have to move in years 8-14 you will receive your principal paid in plus the equity you have had forgiven on the second mortgage.  For example, if you had a first mortgage of $75,000 and a second mortgage of $35,000 and you were to sell in year 10 of your ownership, you would get paid what you have paid toward the principal plus 3/7 of the second mortgage.  The second mortgage is put into place to prevent "quick sales" early on in the ownership.

Willingness to Participate as a Partner with Habitat
-When selected, you become a "partner family".  As a partner family you will be responsible for 50 volunteer hours per applicantm after you are accepted into the program to add your family to the waiting list.  In addition, 200 hours of "sweat equity" for each parent will be required after the initial 50 hours (this means for a two-parent household there will be a total of 500 volunteer hours required). This sweat equity may be accomplished in construction of your house and the houses of others and may include clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, providing food for volunteers, working in the Habitat office and attending Homeownership Classes. The family can receive credit for the remaining sweat equity hours put in by friends and relatives who join in the work.
-You will be responsible for maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you sign the mortgage.
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How do I apply?

Please answer the following questions:

1. Have you lived in the area (Johnson, Iowa or Cedar county) for at least one year?

2. Have you had family stability for at least one year?

3. Is your current household income roughly between $15,000 and $39,000?

4. Are your current living conditions unsafe, unhealthy, overcrowded or are you paying too much in rent (over 30% of monthly wages)?

5. Is your credit report in moderate status?

6. Are you willing to complete the "sweat equity" of volunteer time to become a partner family? 

If you have answered YES to all of these questions then you might be qualified to receive a house.  

To apply, please:

1. Print and fill out the employment verification form.

2. Print a *pdf version of the application and fill it out.

                                    OR

   Complete a word document version of the application and print it.

Please send the completed application and employment verification to:
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
2401 Scott Blvd.
Iowa City, IA  52240

*Note:  To read Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) files, you will first need to download and install the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download ...