Apply for a New Home

To be eligible for a new Habitat home you must:

1. Earn between 25-60% of the area median income (see chart below)
2. Currently live in substandard housing (examples include structural, electrical or plumbing problems causing health and safety risks, unsafe location, very high costs, or limited space for the size of the family)
3. Be able to pay back the cost of the home with a 0% interest mortgage (average monthly cost is about $750, but will vary according to location, house size, and utility usage)
4. Be willing to partner with Habitat to build your home, including performing 250 hours of volunteer labor per adult in the household

To prepare, we encourage you to check your credit report for free by accessing www.annualcreditreport.com.  For $10 you may also obtain your credit score at the same site. Habitat requires a minimum credit score of 550.  If your score falls below 550, we encourage you to contact Coastal Enterprises, Inc which can provide information and guidance aimed at helping you raise your score.  CEI is located in Wiscasset and can be reached at 882-7552.

We require all applicants to take the Maine HoMEworks course, a program created especially for first-time home buyers in Maine.  We urge you to enroll in this course at your earliest convenience. The 10 hour program will help you prepare for the process of buying a home, even if you decide not to apply for a Habitat home.      

The Homeownership Education Course is offered by Coastal Enterprises, Inc. at various times and locations throughout the Midcoast area. The cost is $25 per individual or $30 per couple.  You may access the schedule for this program at www.Mainehomeworks.org or by calling CEI at 882-7552.

Apply for a Home Repair

The Home Repair Program will perform repairs on owner-occupied homes that address a family’s health and safety or the energy efficiency of the home.  The cost of materials and any professional labor for the repair is limited to $5,000 and is financed by HFH/7RM with a 0% interest loan repaid over 5 years.  Sweat equity of 5 hours per $1,000 of cost is required and can be earned through working on job sites, in the administrative offices or at the ReStore.

Focus Areas:

Exterior Repairs to Structure (ex. roof, porch/stairs, ramp) – these repairs address health and safety issues with a limited scope.  No repairs that include plumbing, electrical or masonry work will be undertaken.

Energy Efficiency Improvements – these repairs improve the energy efficiency of a home.  HFH/7RM will perform a certified energy audit on any home owned by a low-income family for a fee of $50 which can be applied to the cost of any repair work done by HFH/7RM.  The results of the audit determine the work that HFH/7RM is willing to perform and would focus on minimizing air leaks and infiltration, adding insulation, and replacing windows or doors when warranted.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Home Repair Program, you must:

1. Own and live in your home
2. Earn between 25-60% of the area median income (see chart below)
3. Be able to pay back a loan for the cost of the materials and professional labor (maximum amout = $5,000)
4. Be willing to partner with Habitat, including performing 5-25 hours of volunteer labor per adult in the household (hours vary with amount of loan)

Guidelines

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