Strong and stable homes build strong and stable communities.

Working in partnership with local families, Habitat creates opportunities for homeownership.

Future Habitat homeowners are active participants in the homebuilding and home buying process. The foundation of our unique program is working in partnership with families seeking the strength, stability, and independence that homeownership provides. Habitat homeowners build and buy their very own homes, creating brighter futures for themselves and their families.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Habitat’s model creates a cycle of community investment putting home mortgage payments to work building more homes.

Identify

land for affordable housing communities, through donation or partnership

Build

homes through homeowner “sweat equity” hours and volunteer labor

Save

on expensive labor costs, which is passed on to future homeowners

Sell

to qualified buyers at a price they can afford

Invest

mortgage payments back into the program to build more Habitat homes

HOW DO I QUALIFY?

Future Habitat homeowners must meet three core qualifications:

In need of improved housing

Eliminating substandard housing is a core tenet of Habitat for Humanity.

Future homeowners must show a need that can be determined by many factors such as:

  • overcrowding

  • unsafe or unhealthy living conditions

  • rental costs that exceed 50% of monthly household income

  • overcrowding

  • unsafe or unhealthy living conditions

  • rental costs that exceed 50% of monthly household income

Willing to partner with Habitat

Future homeowners are active participants in the construction process and are positive representatives of Habitat in the community.

All future homeowners are required to complete a minimum of 250 hours of per adult buyer as part of that partnership, working alongside Habitat construction staff and volunteers to build their own home, the homes of their neighbors, or even in the ReStore or administrative offices.

Able to pay an affordable mortgage

Applicants must have stable income and earn between 50% and 80% of the Area Median Income. There should be at least two years of good credit, no bankruptcy within the past two years, and no delinquent debt. Mortgage payments are tailored to homeowners and will be no more than 30% of the gross monthly household income.

HOW DO I APPLY?

The journey to homeownership can be intimidating. We’ll be there at every step.

Purchasing your first home is a big deal. The Habitat path to homeownership begins with a multi-step approval process that ensures our program is right for for you. Our goal is to set you up for success so you can begin building a brighter future for yourself and your family.

No homeownership orientations are scheduled at this time. Add your name to our interest list to be notified about our next one.

Purchasing your first home is a big deal. The Habitat path to homeownership begins with a multi-step approval process that ensures our program is right for for you. Our goal is to set you up for success so you can begin building a brighter future for yourself and your family.

Orientation

When homes are ready to be sold, we hold informative homeownership orientations where you will learn about the Habitat homebuying process and obtain an application.

JOIN OUR INTEREST LIST ➜

Application

Submit your application along with all requested documents. Applications can be obtained by attending our homeownership orientation.

Initial Review

Families who do not fall within income and/or credit guidelines are notified by mail.

REVIEW INCOME GUIDELINES ➜

Home Visit

We will schedule a home visit with qualifying applicants where we get to meet you and discuss your housing needs.

Homeowner Selection Committee Meeting

Based on selection criteria and information gained during the home visit, you may be invited to meet with our Homeowner Selection Committee.

Board of Directors Approval

Each application is evaluated on objective criteria and recommended applicants are presented to the San Diego Habitat Board of Directors for approval. You can then begin completing your sweat equity hours.

Map Legend

  • Under Construction
  • Completed | New Homes
  • Completed | Rehabs

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WHERE IS HABITAT BUILDING?

Habitat homes are located throughout San Diego County.

We build homes and communities where we can acquire land that makes development affordable to future homeowners, most often through local government partnerships or grants. New homes are typically simple, contemporary single family or attached town homes consisting of 3-4 bedrooms, some private outdoor space, and a garage or carport.

We are currently building in Escondido.
LEARN MORE ➜

Meet San Diego Habitat’s newest homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity provides equal housing opportunity to all.

San Diego Habitat for Humanity has pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. Policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

Here are answers to the questions we hear most.

Need more help?

Send us a message here.

We do not have a waitlist. Applications are not accepted on an open or rolling basis. Instead, we accept applications during an open period specific to the properties that are for sale at that time.

Sign up for our homeowner interest list here, and we’ll notify you when our next homeownership orientation is scheduled — this is the best way to hear about Habitat homes coming to market.

Those who are interested in applying for a San Diego Habitat home must attend an orientation, which are property-specific. This is the only place you will be able to obtain an application for our program. At the orientation, which is held in English and in Spanish, you will learn more about Habitat and our programs, about the application process, and the home(s) we will be building. Please click here to provide your contact information if you are interested in receiving an invitation to an upcoming homeownership orientation.

Yes. Habitat follows a nondiscriminatory policy of homebuyer selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor.

No. However, you must be a documented permanent resident of the United States.

The length of the application process varies depending on the availability of homes. It may be more than a year from the beginning of the selection process until the family can move into their home.

Habitat is the initial lender for your 30-year affordable mortgage that will be set at no more than 30% of your household gross monthly income. The monthly payments that are paid to Habitat are used to help build more homes.

As part of their partnership with Habitat, future Habitat homeowners contribute 250 hours of labor per adult applicant. This “sweat equity” can be performed on the construction of their own home, the construction of homes for others, assisting in the ReStore or in the administrative offices, or on other Habitat projects.

No. Habitat enjoys partnerships with banking institutions that offer down payment assistance in the form of forgivable grants to homeowners. We do ask that you save up $5,000 to pay for closing costs. Don’t worry — there will be plenty of time to save it and we’ll help you come up with a plan.

Monthly housing payments are approximately 30% of the family’s monthly income. This includes the principal, house insurance, HOA (if applicable), and property taxes.

Habitat retains the “Right of First Refusal” to purchase back any home in the event that a homeowner needs to sell. Habitat buys the home at a price that shares the appreciation in the value of the house with the homeowner. Equity share will be based on the income guidelines for affordable housing at the time of sale.

Are you dreaming of affordable homeownership?

Build a brighter future for you and your family.

Add your name to our interest list, and we’ll notify you of our next scheduled homeownership orientation — the first step in the Habitat homeownership journey.