Please note new applications will not be accepted after September 30, 2024 to allow us time to process all current applications. Please check this site again in several months for updates.
Guideline for qualifications - July 2024
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing ministry financed through private donations and utilizing volunteer labor. Our purpose is to build houses with families who could not otherwise afford a home by selling to them at our construction cost.
Please read the following items to determine if you have an interest in our ministry and if you meet the general guidelines of qualification.
Please note that we have approved partner families for building that will take us into late 2025.
To qualify you must first meet these primary requirements:
a. Have a need for adequate housing,
b. Be willing to partner with Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity and
c. Have the ability to repay the loan.
2. You must have been a resident in the Highland Lakes services area for one year before applying.
3. You must have a documented stable monthly income as well as meet the debt ratio requirements established by Habitat for Humanity (30% housing/43% total debts).
4. Your total household income must not exceed the annual income limits as set by US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually. Income limits for 2024 are as follows:
• Single member household - $38,520 annually/$3,210 monthly
• Two member household - $43,980 annually/$3,665 monthly
• Three member household - $49,500 annually/$4,125 monthly
• Four member household - $54,960 annually/$4,580 monthly
• Five member household - $59,400 annually /$4,950 monthly
• Six member household - $63,780 annually/$5,315 monthly
5. With your permission, we will verify employment, income and checking/savings account balances. We will obtain a statement from your current and previous landlords, do a credit check and a criminal background check. We require IRS Form 8821 (we will provide the form) to be completed in duplicate and returned for submission to the IRS. The criminal background check is for the purpose of determining volunteer placement and will not necessarily eliminate you from partnership in the program.
6. Once approved for a Highland Lakes Habitat home, you must attend a Crown Financial Management Course or equivalent and a least one Home Depot/Lowe’s sponsored or equivalent maintenance course.
7. If approved for a Highland Lakes Habitat home, you will be required to work 300 hours of sweat equity. 150 of those hours must be completed before construction can begin on your home with the remaining hours being completed before you move into your new home. The applicant family must complete 200 hours and other family members and friends over the age of 18 may complete the remaining 100 hours. An applicant family member should make every effort to be on site each time volunteers are working.
8. If approved for a Highland Lakes Habitat home, $2,500 will be needed for a down payment and closing costs. $1250 of this amount will be due before construction of you home begins. The $2,500 in not inclusive of closing costs.
If you are approved for a home and if you meet the sweat equity, down payment and homeownership education requirements, then we will sell the home to you at our cost of construction. Highland Lakes Habitat house payments including property taxes and insurance typically run $1,000 - $1,300 per month. This is an estimate only. Actual costs may vary.
While Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity will make reasonable efforts to complete the house in accordance with the plan, Highland Lakes Habitat is unable to promise that all houses will be built according to the plan or that all houses will be built. Therefore, Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity cannot guarantee completion dates or the total selling costs of the house it builds.
If you are interested in Habitat and if you believe you qualify for a home according to the above guidelines, we encourage you to fill out and return the application to Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity, P. O. Box 1406, Marble Falls, TX 78654. Please include copies of the last two federal income tax returns, two pay statements from your current employer and your last three months’ utility bills.
All information is considered confidential and will be used only for qualification and family selection. The Selection Committee will notify you within 60 days of receiving your complete application package and all documentation requested for your approval or denial of a Habitat house.
Families not initially accepted may reapply should their circumstances change.
If there are any questions, please send us an email at hlhabitat@gmail.com or call (830) 693-0700 and leave a message for a Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity representative.
Click below to get an application form: