1. Residency

I have lived or worked in St. Johns County for one year or longer. (Must be the most recent consecutive 12 month calendar year)

The residency requirement of the Habitat St. Johns Homeowner Program ensures that we are truly serving those who live and work helping to make our community the thriving, vibrant county that it is. As residents and workers are being priced out of the county on a daily basis. The residency requirement ensures that we are helping to solve the problem, rather than becoming part of it.

2. Willingness to Partner

I will volunteer 200 hours of “Sweat Equity” helping to build homes. 

Sweat equity is all about a new homeowner investing work in their home or one for another family. It’s an opportunity for families to help build their home alongside volunteers and play an active part in making their dream of owning a home a reality. At Habitat St. Johns sweat equity most often takes the form of getting hands on experience on the job site helping to build your own home and the homes of your new neighbors. If you are someone who is unable to work on an active construction site due to a disability, we will work with you to find an outside organization to partner with to complete your sweat equity hours.

3. Need for housing

I have need for a safe, stable, and affordable permanent home. 

Habitat homeowners are individuals who are often dealing with substandard housing that is poorly built, damaged or inadequate; rent or mortgage that’s greater than 30% of their gross monthly income; unhealthy living conditions such as homes with mold and asthma triggers; a home that is inaccessible for their disabilities; or living in an environment that is otherwise not suitable to your needs. Having a need for housing also entails that you do not currently own a home, and have not owned a home in the last three calendar years. If you are divorced and sold a home as part of the divorce proceedings, this requirement can be waived with the proper documentation.

4. Credit Score and DTI

I have a credit score above 640 and a debt-to-income ratio below 45%.

In order to qualify for the mortgage loans that Habitat St. Johns partners with, you do need to have a credit score of 640 or higher. If you are unsure of what your credit score currently is, a free credit check can be ordered once a year from each of the three primary credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). If your credit score is lower than a 640, or you would simply like assistance in increasing it, free credit and financial counseling can be acquired through the St. Johns County Housing and Financial Counseling Program.

If you are unsure of what your current debt-to-income ratio is, we recommend utilizing the free debt-to-income calculator offered by our build partner Wells Fargo.

5. Ability to Pay

My gross yearly income falls between the following amounts:

The Habitat Homeownership Program ability to pay guidelines are established based on the Area Median Income (AMI) Guidelines published yearly by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Income mortgage loan purposes includes income from wages, self-employment income, social security (SSI, disability, pension), child support, and Veteran pension. If you are unsure whether a source of income qualifies, please reach out to us at (904) 826-3252.