Own a home
Are you renting and looking for a way to buy your first home?
Buy a home through our Affordable Homeownership Program – no down payment and no interest. Plus, your monthly mortgage payments are guaranteed to be set at no more than 30% of your family’s total household income.
Before you apply
Before you apply, here are 3 main criteria to consider:
1
Need for affordable housing
To qualify, you must be living in housing that doesn’t meet your needs. This could mean it’s too crowded, unsafe, too expensive, or doesn’t suit your family’s situation.
2
Income and finances
You need to have a steady income, low debt, and good credit. Your income must fall within our requirements to make sure your monthly mortgage payments are affordable for you.
3
Volunteer hours
If you’re approved, you’ll complete 500 volunteer hours with Habitat before moving in. This is how you help build your home and support other families in the program.
Basic qualification criteria
Please note that the list below is the minimum qualifying criteria. Additional factors determining eligibility are taken into consideration.
Personal
- Have at least one child under the age of 18
- Have lived in Alberta for at least two years
- All family members are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents
- Willing to volunteer 500 hours
- Cannot qualify for a traditional mortgage
- Do not currently own real estate in Canada or abroad
Employment
- Minimum employment income of $40,000 per year (dependent on location) from one household member
- At least one member of the household working full-time hours
- Consistent full-time work history for the past two years
Financial
- Minimum $7,500 in chequing and/or savings accounts to demonstrate savings behaviour and for closing costs
- Balance of debt and mandatory monthly payments on debt are taken into consideration
- No debt in collections and Consumer Proposal must be paid in full
- Do not have an undischarged bankruptcy in the past three years
- Maximum total household income dependent on family size (see chart below)*
| Number of family members | Maximum gross household income |
|---|---|
| 2-4 | $76,000 |
| 5 | $80,000 |
| 6 | $89,000 |
| 7+ | $95,000 |
*Criteria subject to change.
Steps to homeownership
1
Check your eligibility
Start by taking our Eligibility Quiz. It’s quick and easy, and it will tell you if you meet the basic criteria to move forward with an online application.
2
Complete application
If you are eligible, you will be invited to complete an online application. Required information will include submitting documents with detailed information about your income, savings, debt and your current housing situation.
3
Interviews
If your application moves forward, there will be interviews, credit checks, and reference checks before our final decision is made.
4
Approval
Your family will be matched to a home and your homeownership journey begins!
5
Complete 500 hours
After your application is approved, you will begin your 500 volunteer hours which includes taking part in our homeowner education classes to help you prepare for homeownership.
6
Move in
When your home is ready and you have completed your volunteer hours, it’s time to get the keys!
Volunteer requirements
Each homeowner volunteers 500 hours as part of their partnership with Habitat for Humanity. There are various opportunities available every day of the week, and friends and family can help complete the hours.
Habitat ReStores
Complete hours in our ReStores by helping on the sales floor, organizing donations, or assisting customers. It’s a flexible way to contribute without being on a construction site.
Construction site
Work alongside our team to help build Habitat homes. Help with various stages of building homes, including framing, painting and more. No experience needed!
Homeowner education classes
Earn hours by participating in classes that prepare you for success as a homeowner. Topics include budgeting, credit, and home maintenance.
Special events
Complete hours by helping at Habitat events like home dedications, casino fundraisers, or community celebrations. You can also participate in photo or video campaigns, or share your story at speaking opportunities.
Ready to get started?
Where are the Habitat homes I can buy?
Habitat homes are located in communities across Southern Alberta. Some are newly built, while others are homes that families have sold back to us and are ready for a new beginning.
You’ll find Habitat homes in places like:
- Calgary
- Airdrie
- Chestermere
- Okotoks
- High River
- Brooks
- Medicine Hat
Available home locations will vary. If approved, you’ll be matched with a home based on where you live, what you qualify for, and what’s available.
The journey towards homeownership was so smooth thanks to the friendly and professional staff at the Habitat office. We received a phone call from Habitat informing us that our application has been approved. We were so happy and excited about the news and that was the best gift we have ever had! On that day, our dreams became true.
Frequently asked questions
If you meet our qualification criteria, please take the online Eligibility Quiz. If you screen through, you will receive a link to the Online Application form. The email will also include an application guide that will help you complete the application.
There are 3 stages to being approved:
Stage 1, you will need to complete the application and submit the required documents.
Stage 2, we will ask for additional information and documents and also pull a credit check.
Stage 3, there are interviews and reference checks.
Applications are reviewed after each stage and will be declined or moved forward. If an application is declined, we will let you know why. Families can re-apply in one year and we encourage you to do so if you meet the criteria at that time. The average time it takes is 3 months but that also depends on the family and how quickly they send in their documents and answer questions.
There are several criteria a family must meet to qualify for our Affordable Homeownership Program and many factors are taken into consideration. Please read the list of our basic qualification criteria carefully. You can also watch the online Information Session to learn more about the program.
Please do not use a cell phone to fill out the application form. The best way to apply is on a laptop or a desktop, as a cell phone may cause problems with your application.
You’ll complete your 500 hours of volunteer time by helping on a build site, supporting your local ReStore, or assisting with other Habitat activities. Our team will work with you to create a schedule that fits your needs. Many families choose to involve friends and relatives to help complete their hours.
Once an application is approved, families must attend an Orientation Session. After this session, families can start volunteering for the hours that will be counted towards the 500 required hours for the home. Any volunteer hours completed before this are not included.
Email us at ownahome@habitatsouthernab.ca