How To Apply

Take These Steps to Owning a Home of Your Own

1. IMPORTANT: Review the Homeownership Program details.
2. IMPORTANT: Review the qualification criteria.
3. After you have reviewed the links in steps 1 and 2: Complete the Homeowner Pre-Qualification Form.
4. Your form will be reviewed and scored. If your score is high enough, you will be invited to a Homeowner Orientation, where you will be given an Application for Homeownership.
5. Complete your Application for Homeownership, gathering the appropriate documents.
6. Once you submit your completed application, our Homeowner Services Committee will review your information. We will verify employment and other sources of income, have a credit check done, and ask you for credit references. Your long-term debt, including your expected Habitat housing cost, must be below a certain threshold. (The review process may take one to two months.)
7. The committee will conduct an interview and a home visit.
8. You will be contacted to let you know whether or not you have been approved.

• You will be asked to sign a covenant, or letter of understanding, which states the specifics of the program and your roles and responsibilities.
• Sweat equity begins. A single parent is responsible for completing a minimum of 250 volunteer hours with Habitat Pinellas, called sweat equity. Couples are responsible for completing a minimum of 350 sweat equity hours. Homeowner candidates work in the office and on other families' homes, before starting their own home.
• You must complete 13 homeownership classes.
• Homeowner candidates must contribute $500 toward closing costs. This is accomplished with monthly payments of $40. You will also be required to have homeowners' insurance paid in full at the time of closing (a cost of approximately $1,000 - $1,500.)

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Homeowner Orientation
Orientations are held every month at the Habitat office. Reservations are recommended. You must submit a Homeowner Pre-Qualification Form and attend a Homeowner Orientation to receive an Application for Homeownership.

• To make a reservation: Call or email our Homeowner Services Manager. Please include your phone number.
• Calendar of orientations
• Directions to the Habitat office
• Please Note: If you make a reservation to attend an orientation and cannot attend for any reason, you must call in advance to cancel. Individuals who no-show or fail to cancel two reservations (consecutive or not) will not be eligible to attend an orientation or to receive an application for 12 months.

Links to Additional Housing Resources:

Pinellas County Housing Authority
Clearwater Housing Authority