Home Ownership Program

Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, Inc. is a non-profit Christian housing ministry organization that builds simple, decent, affordable houses with the help of countless people donating time, materials and funds. Each home is sold – at no profit through a 0% interest mortgage – to local working families who other wise might be forced to live in substandard housing. These families contribute “Sweat Equity” aiding in the labor and construction of their own home and the homes of other Habitat families. Through this unique partnership, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas offers a hand up, not a hand out.

Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas reviews many applications to select our partner families. The selection process is a rigorous one, including reviewing work history, credit history, family size, economic need, desire and ability to become full partners with Habitat. Families selected for a Habitat home are required to complete a minimum 300 hours (per adult living in the home) of “sweat equity”, working on Habitat Home construction sites.

Habitat does not view these families as recipients of a home, but as partners in homeownership. The families purchase their homes and are required to pay a mortgage. Habitat underwrites a 0% interest mortgage for the life of the loan, basing the monthly payment at approximately 30% of the family’s monthly income. With in-kind donations of materials and the volunteer labor of members of our community, these factors work together to make housing affordable for our families.  

Family Selection Criteria

Families are selected based on their need for adequate housing, their ability to pay back a 0% interest loan and their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas.

 If you are interested in applying for a Habitat Home you must first meet the following minimum qualifications.

• Applicants must be a legal permanent resident of the United States
• Must have lived in Clark County for the past 12 months
• May not have owned a home in the past 3 years
• May not have a discharged bankruptcy in the past 2 years
• May not have a foreclosure in the past 3 years
• May not have any outstanding liens or judgments
• Your monthly debt can not exceed 55% of your monthly income
• * Minimum total household income must be at least $26,000 per year (gross)

* Minimum income limit is subject to change without notice        

 NEW Maximum allowable total income (gross) for 2009 is as follows:

            Family of 2                  $41,850

            Family of 3                  $47,050

            Family of 4                  $52,300

            Family of 5                  $56,500

            Family of 6                  $60,650

            Family of 7                  $64,850

            Family of 8+                $69,050

Prior to submitting an application for a Habitat home you must first attend our Home Ownership Orientation to receive a Certificate of Completion and then complete 25 hours of volunteer service with Habitat.

Submitting an Application:

Step one:       Register and attend the next scheduled Home Ownership Orientation to receive your Certificate of Completion. To register click on the button above or call at (702) 638-6477 ext. 11 and leave your name and phone number.

Step two:        After attending the orientation call the Habitat office to schedule an appointment to receive your “Habitat Application Starter Packet” and to schedule your start date for the required 25 hours of volunteer service. The starter packet will include a Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas Home Application, a document checklist, a liability waiver form, and a time sheet to document your hours. (Applications are available in Spanish and by appointment only)

Step three:    Complete the required 25 hours of volunteer service and call the Family Service Program Manager to schedule an appointment to bring in all of the required documents and officially submit your Habitat Home application.

Additional Requirements: (if accepted into the program

Complete a minimum of 300 sweat equity hours building Habitat Homes per adult living in the household.

• You must pay closing costs of approximately 1% of the appraised value (about $2000)
• You must pay (in-full) your first year’s of Homeowners Insurance (about $500)

Click here to see the next scheduled Home Ownership Orientation.

 If you have additional questions please contact:

Jackie Valdera

Family Services Program Manager

(Se Hablo Español)

(702) 638-6477

Jackie@habitatlasvegas.org