How Families Are Selected
Hobbs Habitat qualifies families that fall within the guidelines (below) of the median income for the City of Hobbs. This income percentage varies with the number of people living in the home. Habitat homes are sold - not given - to families using a normal mortgage, including taxes and insurance. Homeowners pay a down payment at move-in and monthly mortgage payments of approximately $525 to $550 a month. The difference in cost between a Habitat home and buying a new home on the open market is that Habitat for Humanity doesn't charge interest on the mortgage.
Need: Families who apply and have lived here for one year prior to application are considered for a Habitat home if their current housing is not adequate for their family size, not affordable on their income, or is unsafe. These are just some of the areas looked at by the Family Selection Committee to determine eligibility.
Ability to Pay: Habitat for Humanity of Hobbs qualifies families based on credit (including credit patterns, types of debt, and attempts to make payments) and income. We only build for families that fall within the guidelines (below) of the median income for the City of Hobbs. This income percentage varies with the number of people living in the home.
Habitat homes are sold–not given–to families using a normal mortgage, including taxes and insurance. Homeowners pay a $1,500 down payment at move-in, and monthly mortgage payments of approximately $525/month.
The difference in cost between a Habitat home and buying a new home on the open market is that Habitat for Humanity doesn’t charge interest on the mortgage.
Willingness to Partner: Each Habitat Partner Family agrees to contribute "Sweat Equity Hours" to the Homeowner process. Single applicant families must contribute 350 hours and dual applicant families 500 hours. In the first two years of partnership with Habitat (or before they move into their home), families contribute to the needs of the organization as well as the construction of Habitat homes–theirs and other families’.
Application Process
Hobbs Habitat for Humanity provides the opportunity for hardworking families currently living in Hobbs, NM for at least 1 year prior to application to become successful homeowners. Habitat offers a ‘hand-up, not a handout’ by making it possible for struggling families to own their own home.
We are always looking for qualified homeowners. Interested families can sign up year-round by calling or coming by our office. However, applications are only given out once a year/or two depending on the number of families selected. The Application Meeting is usually held in the fall. We invite you to see if you qualify but you must attend the Meeting to get an application.
Applying to and becoming a part of the Hobbs Habitat for Humanity program is not an overnight process. Much of it depends on how long it takes you to complete your required sweat equity hours and what number you are on the list of homes to be built.
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There are several steps we follow with prospective homeowners to ensure that we are accepting individuals and families who are in need of decent and affordable housing.
1. You can sign up to receive notification of the Application Meeting. You will be notified when the date is decided. There will also be notices of meetings sent to all the schools to be taken home to parents and the date will be posted on our Facebook Page (Habitat for Humanity of Hobbs). You must attend the Application Meeting to receive an application. You will be notified by mail if you do not qualify after each phase of the process.
2. PHASE I - Application Meeting
a. Head of Selection Committee will speak and tell all families about regulations to apply for a Habitat home. Volunteers will help with the filling out of applications if needed and help answer any questions they may have. Will need to know this information for yourself and co-applicant if that applies:
1. Social Security number
2. Phone numbers
3. All income and expenses
4. Names & ages of dependents
5. Present residence, previous residence (if less than 2 years)
6. Information on present residence – size, payments and name, address and phone number of landlord
7. Employment
8. Email Address
9. References (3)
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b. Applications will be turned in at the end of the meeting.
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c. Applications will be given to the Selection Committee for their review
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d. If you make it through the first selection, appointments will be set up for the Financial Meeting
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e. You will receive a letter with a list of documents required for the Financial Meeting and you will need to bring a copy to be left of all the documentation to your appointment time.
3. Phase II - Financial Meeting
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a. The bank goes over the financial forms with you and gets them ready for the Selection Committee to review
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b. The Family Selection Committee will then review and run a credit check to verify the details of your application and determine if your finances meet the criteria for our program
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c. If you meet our income guidelines, a member of our Family Selection
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Committee will come to visit you in your current house or apartment to get to know you better and to verify your need for housing.
4. Phase III - Home Visits
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a. 2-4 Members of the Selection Committee will come by your residence for a meeting and answer any questions they may have.
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b. If approved based on need, you will attend an orientation class with a Family Coordinator to discuss your participation in the program, sweat equity hours, and what it means to be a Habitat partner.
5. Upon selection, you will be required to attend a “Home Owners” College to qualify you for a home.
6. You will have to complete 150 personal sweat equity hours (per adult) and 200
friends/family sweat equity hours.
7. You will work alongside volunteers and other Family Partners to build their homes and your own home.
8. Once completed, your home will be blessed at a special Key Ceremony.
9. Your home will be deeded to you. You move in and become a homeowner – and begin making monthly mortgage payments