• Own your own home.

    Homeownership

Homeownership

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity builds and finances 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes and townhomes. Qualified homeowners pay an affordable monthly mortgage that is equal to or less than 30% of their gross monthly income.

Take the Self-Evaluation

Interested in Habitat homeownership?

Use our self-evaluation tool to evaluate your readiness for the program!

Are you 55+ years old and interested in buying a Habitat home?

Please visit our page about Aging in Place, Habitat’s new affordable homeownership program specifically for aging adults (55+).

Aging in Place

Qualifications for Homeownership

Residency:

  • Must have lived and/or worked in Buncombe County for a minimum of 12 months prior to application.
  • Applicants must be legal U.S. residents.

Need:

  • Living in overcrowded housing.
  • Living in substandard housing.
  • Paying more than 30% of gross income on rent.
  • Living in temporary, subsidized, or public housing.

Willingness to Partner

  • Each applicant who will be listed on the deed must be willing to perform 200 hours of Sweat Equity.
  • Applicants must be willing to complete a Homebuyer Education program.
  • Appropriate accommodations can be made for families with physical limitations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Homeownership Qualifications continued

Ability to Pay

  • Rental History: must have paid rent on-time for 12 months prior to applying.
  • Employment history: When considering income from employment, minimum 2 years of continuous employment history, including at least 12 months with current employer.
  • Debt-to-Income ratio: Monthly debts cannot consume more than 18% of gross monthly income.
  • Delinquent Debt: No more than $1,500 in total balances at the time of application.
  • Medical Collections: less than 3 years old – no more than $2,500. If greater than 3 years old – no more than $7,500.
  • Revolving Debt (ie: credit card debt): No more than $2,500 in total balances at the time of application, excluding student loan or automobile loan debt.
  • Bankruptcy: Must wait two years after being discharged.
  • Income: must be stable and fall below 80% of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Area Median Income. See chart to the right.

Note: You cannot qualify for Habitat homeownership if you own a home at the time of application.

Income Requirements (subject to change)

Minimum and maximum monthly income to qualify for a Habitat home.
House SizeMonthly Minimum Monthly Maximum
2 BDRM, 1 person$1,876$3,750
2 BDRM, 2person$2,143$4,283
2 BDRM, 3 person$2,410$4,820
3 BDRM, 3 person$2,410$4,820
3 BDRM, 4 person$2,676$5,354
4 BDRM, 4 person$2,676$5,354
4 BDRM, 5 person$2,893$5,783
4 BDRM, 6 person$3,106$6,212
4 BDRM, 7 person$3,320$6,641
4 BDRM, 8 person$3,533$7,070

*Gross income before taxes

Habitat will determine your house size based on your household size.

How to Get Started

If you are interested in applying for Habitat Homeownership, please use our self-evaluation tool to evaluate your readiness for our program!

If you would like to apply, please attend one of our in-person information sessions to learn more about how the program works, how to qualify, and how to apply! No pre-registration is required to attend. Information session dates are posted below and additional dates will be posted continuously.

If you would like to apply but cannot attend in-person, or if you have additional questions, please contact Homeowner Services at 828-210-9371 or apply@ashevillehabitat.org

Information Sessions

All information sessions are held in-person at Asheville Habitat’s Administrative Offices at 33 Meadow Rd. For safety reasons, the doors will be locked when the session begins, so please arrive a few minutes early.  Applications will be distributed at the end of the session.

Upcoming sessions:

  • Wednesday, March 15th at 6pm

  • Saturday March 25th at 11am

  • Wednesday, April 5th at 6pm

  • Saturday, April 22nd at 11am

  • Wednesday, May 3rd at 6pm

  • Saturday, May 20th at 11am

In accepting and rejecting applications, Asheville Area 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.