Apply for Homeownership
Everyone deserves a decent place to live.
Teton Habitat partners with families and individuals in a homeownership program to build simple, decent, and truly affordable housing in Teton County, Wyoming. Teton Habitat builds and sells homes at no profit and no interest. Teton Habitat does not offer short-term housing, rental housing, or immediate occupancy.
We build homes for individuals and families earning between 30-80% of the Area Median Income. In Teton County, this is currently referred to as Category 1 households. Teton Habitat is the only organization building homes for purchase for Category 1 households. These households typically do not qualify for conventional financing. According to the Teton Region Housing Needs Assessment, 43% of households in Teton County meet the Category 1 income range.
Teton Habitat works on a "hand up, not a handout" philosophy. The Homeowner Selection Committee evaluates applications based on 1) need for housing, 2) ability to pay, and 3) willingness to partner with Teton Habitat. It's the third and last item that sets us apart and has the strongest and farthest-reaching impact. Willingness to partner means that all future Teton Habitat homeowners must complete at least 500 sweat equity hours building their homes, complete over 25 hours of homeowner education programs, and pay approximately $3,500.00 toward their mortgage closing costs.
The sweat equity requirement pairs homeowners side-by-side on the building site with our construction crew and volunteers from our local community.
Teton Habitat homes are
deed-restricted as follows:
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Occupancy and rental restrictions apply.
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If a Habitat homeowner sells their home, Teton Habitat has the right to purchase the home to re-sell it to a newly qualified family.
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Home sale prices are fixed; Habitat homeowners don't make financial gains due to overall gains in the real estate market.
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Homes are sold at 0% interest, 30-year fixed mortgages originated by Teton Habitat.
Selection Criteria
01
need for housing
Applications will be assessed by the need for housing. Need for housing includes but is not limited to: structural, health, or safety issues; overcrowding; unaffordable rent (paying more than 30% of monthly income in rent); unpredictable housing; and inadequate medical or handicapped accessibility. Applicants must also earn a steady income of no more than 80% of the area median income.
02
ability to pay
The applicants must be able to make monthly mortgage payments of no more than 30% of their earnings and continue to pay other debts they might have. If selected, applicants must be able to save for closing costs. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a steady income and a history of consistent, on-time payments. Credit reports and employer and landlord reference checks will be conducted for verification. If selected, a volunteer advocate will help applicants establish a plan for savings and sweat equity monthly goals.
03
willingness to partner
Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity in our homeownership program. This includes the acceptance of a 500-hour sweat equity requirement and a high publicity program, demonstrating progress on monthly savings, completing Habitat’s 25+ hour homebuyer education program, and taking responsibility for the care of their own home. Sweat equity goals are divided as follows: single household (250 personal/250 friends and family hours); dual household (300 personal/200 friends and family hours).
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