A home to call your own

Interested in becoming a homeowner?

At your local Transylvania Habitat for Humanity, we help people help themselves through hard work and sweat equity.

Habitat works with you to build a quality home with a mortgage that you can afford. Looking for more info on how to begin your journey? Call 828-862-5117 and we’ll walk you through the process of new homeownership!

Homeownership Qualifications:

Need for Housing

Living in overcrowded or substandard housing
Being a resident of public housing
Paying more than 30% of gross income on rent
Unable to qualify for a conventional mortgage

Ability to Pay

Income must be stable and fall between 40 – 80% of the area median income
Mortgage payments will be no more than 30% of the gross monthly income of the applicant(s)
Total debt, including potential Habitat mortgage, cannot exceed 43% of monthly gross income
Must wait 2 years after bankruptcy discharge to apply

Willingness to Partner

Complete a minimum of 200 sweat equity hours per applicant
Meet document deadlines as requested including but not limited to submitting tax returns, birth certificates, bank statements, and proof of citizenship
Authorize credit and criminal background checks
Attend all mandatory homeowner education classes
Save $2,000 for down payment

Residency

Live and/or work in Transylvania County
Be a US Citizen or Permanent Legal US Resident

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the process?

The application process takes roughly 1 to 2 months. The sweat equity requirement takes 8-12 months. It generally takes about 1 year to 2 years to complete the entire process, from the date of the application to the house closing, depending on all factors involved.

What if I am not approved?

If applicants do not meet Transylvania Habitat for Humanity’s criteria for homeownership, and are not selected into the program, they will receive a letter with a description of the reason.

Is there any limit to how many times I can apply?

There is no limit to how many times an individual can apply for a Habitat home.

Is there someone I can speak to about the application process?

Absolutely. For questions or concerns regarding the application process, please call 828-862-5117.

Interested in applying?

If you are interested in applying for housing, please watch our homeownership video below, then visit our apply page for more information on how to apply.

I’M READY TO APPLY NOW

Transylvania Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible as a charitable gift for federal income tax purposes.

In accepting and rejecting applications, Transylvania Habitat for Humanity must conform to all aspects of the Fair Housing Act and all Fair Housing Laws, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Privacy Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as any local applicable laws as they apply to applications for a mortgage.