• Own Your Own Home

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Homeownership

Chipola Area Habitat builds affordable, energy-efficient 2, 3, and 4-bedroom houses that are sold to qualifying buyers who repay an affordable mortgage (serviced by Habitat). Applicants must qualify based on Residency Status, Need, Ability to Pay, and Willingness to Partner (see below for details).

We are currently accepting initial applications for Home Ownership.

To begin the process, download and submit an initial application. If you have any questions or need to have an application mailed to you please contact us.

850-482-2187

Applications cannot be processed without income documentation.

Download the Initial Home Ownership Application

Qualifications for Homeownership

Following are the basic Homeowner Selection Criteria for Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity. More details are covered in the Information Sessions.

  • Must have lived and/or worked in Jackson or Washington County for a minimum of 12 months prior to application.
  • Applicants must be legal U.S. residents.

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 such as water, electrical or sewage service systems, heating system, or the 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 home.

The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered when determining need. You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation during this process.

Since you will be buying your home 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 property 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 selected, you become a partner family with Habitat. As a partner family, you must complete a minimum of 500 hours of volunteer work or sweat equity. Sweat equity includes helping with the construction of your home and the homes of others, doing things such as clearing the lot and painting. Sweat equity may also be earned volunteering at the ReStore. The 500 hours of sweat equity must be completed before moving into your home.

Wondering what your Habitat house could look like? View our gallery of homes in the Chipola Area.

Newly built habitat home Two people in front of Habitat Chipola's new home Habitat Chipola Newly Built Single Story Home CAHFH Brand New Home Interior of Habitat Chipola Home Build Kitchen Laundry Room & Closet Bedroom and Bathroom Bathroom Vanity Bedroom Bathroom Porch and Door Backyard of Habitat for Humanity Home Exterior Wall

In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate against any person in the sale, rental, advertising or financing of housing on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, family status, national origin, source of income, or exercise of rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.