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If you’re looking for how to become a homeowner with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, Maine, you’ve come to the right place! Every day we partner with families throughout Greater Portland to help them achieve their dream of homeownership. We build comfortable, modest, high-quality homes with affordable mortgages, to help families build strength and stability through homeownership.

Applications for homeownership are typically available several times a year during what we call “application cycles.” We are currently building in South Portland and Standish.

The application cycle for homeownership in South Portland is now open! Keep reading to learn how to apply. 

If you’re interested in homeownership in Standish, fill out an interest form to be contacted when the next Standish application cycle opens.

Apply for a home in South Portland

group of 6 people, including two Habitat homeowners, working on a construction site, taking a selfie

Program Overview & Requirements

Habitat Greater Portland partners with families to build a home that you can afford. That includes an affordable mortgage and an energy-efficient home to keep your monthly utilities low.

The process of completing your volunteer “sweat equity” hours and the building of your home typically takes upwards of 12-18 months. In that time, Habitat will prepare you for homeownership financially as well as empower you to maintain your new home yourself.

Upon completion of your home and your sweat equity hours, we will work with you on closing, resulting in an affordable mortgage on a new home and that you own!

Qualifications

Need for Housing

  • Living in overcrowded housing
  • Living in sub-standard housing
  • Relying on extended family or friends for housing
  • Paying more than 30% of gross income on rent
  • Does not own a home
  • Unable to qualify for a conventional mortgage

Willingness to Partner

  • Willing to perform 275 hours of sweat equity, helping to build your home and neighborhood
  • Ability to complete volunteer work in the community you will be owning a home in
  • Have no serious, recent, criminal history
  • Applicants must be legal U.S. residents

Ability to Pay

  • You must earn at least $30,000 per year and no more than 65% of HUD Area Median Income based on your family size. (See chart on the right or click here for full AMI chart.)
  • You must be able to save $2,000 for closing costs and fees

Income requirements may vary per project based upon requirements made by Habitat funders.

Income Requirements for Standish and South Portland Homeownership

Family Size 1 2 3 4 5
Max. Income $54,373 $62,140 $69,908 $77,675 $83,889

Application & Approval Process

The timeline of when applications are available depends upon our build schedule. Once applications become available, you have several weeks to complete it. During this time, Habitat staff is available to answer questions and help you fill out the application.

Anyone who has filled out an interest form will be contacted via email when homeownership applications become available. The application window for homes in South Portland is now open. 

Once you hand in your completed application, your information will be presented to a local community bank to determine if you can afford a Habitat home. The bank will contact you to collect your proof of income, tax-returns, and other important financial info.

Mortgage payments will not be more than 30% of your gross monthly income.

If the bank has decided you can afford to purchase a home, members of the Family Services Committee will conduct a home visit to see the conditions you are currently living in and meet all members of your household.

If the Family Services Committee recommends your application for selection, the Habitat Board of Directors will review your materials and give final approval. You’re ready to begin the journey to homeownership with Habitat!

cape style home

Apply for a home in South Portland
Frequently Asked Questions about South Portland Homeownership
Fill out an interest form for homes in Standish

We are 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.

Questions?

Contact Family Services Director, Molly Brake, at molly@habitatme.org

Email Molly