No. Our homes are built in partnership with low- and moderate-income families. Partner families pay for closing costs and make affordable monthly mortgage payments. Partner families are required to invest 250 hours (per adult) of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others, as well as attend a series of home-buyer education classes.
We Make The Dream of Homeownership a Reality
Because Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley is a non-profit developer supported through grants and community partnerships as well as the generosity of donors, partners, and volunteers, as well as the proceeds from our ReStore; we are able to make affordable homeownership possible for the people who are essential to the wellbeing of our communities. Over our first 20 years, Habitat built 33 homes with over 200 adults and children. Between Basalt Vista and Wapiti Commons, nearly 50 more families will be able to set down roots and thrive.
MEET ONE OF OUR HABITAT RFV HOMEOWNERS
The Ice Family
Prior to becoming Habitat RFV homeowners, the Cory and Tessa Ice were renting a less than 600 square foot, 2-bedroom house with a toddler and a baby. They knew knew our situation was the best “deal” financially and in the valley, but still, they dreamed.
The family applied for a Habitat home more than once, but it wasn’t until almost a year after they had their last interview with Habitat that they got a call that would change their lives forever.
Says Tessa Ice, “It was truly divine timing how everything worked out for us. The peace of mind and joy that has come with owning a beautiful, new home is indescribable. We always had dreams of hosting gatherings, growing a garden, the freedom to make a house our own, and to continue to grow our family. We have begun to see those dreams become reality!"
“We can’t thank Habitat Roaring Fork enough for the chance to grow as individuals and as a family in our safe and beautiful home.” CORY ICE
- Do I Qualify?
- How to Apply
- FAQ
- Housing Resources
Habitat Homeowner Selection Criteria
Homeowners buy their homes with an affordable loan from one of Habitat's third party lending partners.
Our partner families are selected based on the following four criteria:
Need
Families must currently live in substandard, crowded, or unaffordable housing, or housing that for some reason does not meet the needs of the family.
Your shelter is inadequate because of problems with heating, water supply, structural safety, overcrowding, etc.
A majority of your monthly income is going towards housing.
The neighborhood you live in is unsafe.
No property owned in the last three years (excluding mobile homes, although mobile homes will need to be sold prior to closing).
No bankrupcy in the last two years
No violent or felony drug charges
Willingness to partner
In order to be selected to purchase a Habitat home, you must show your willingness to partner with us by demonstrating timeliness, understanding, and eagerness of the partnership throughout the process. This includes:
Saving $4,000 for closing costs
Contributing 250 hours per applicant on the construction of their home and the homes of other families
Attending required homeowner education classes
Making on-time mortgage payments
Handling home upkeep
Continued involvement with Habitat RFV by volunteering and participation in fundraisers and special events
Residency status
To quality for a home, you must be a United States Citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States. You must have worked in the Rifle for at least one year to apply. Priority will be given to those working in Rifle.
Ability to pay
Families must meet the financial requirements and have a stable, monthly income sufficient to meet routine expenses, maintain a homes and make monthly mortgage payments.
We base our housing prices on the area median income for the county.
Monthly mortgage payments should be less than 30% of the homebuyers gross (before taxes) monthly income.
FAIR HOUSING NONDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
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.
Steps to Becoming a Habitat Homeowner
The number of candidates selected varies year to year and is in direct relationship to the number of homes we are currently able to build. All applications are thoroughly reviewed by our Family Selection Committee and applicants will be kept informed throughout the application process.
Step 1: Applying for a Home
Homeowners who are interested in applying for a Habitat home can request an application by sending an email to Info@HabitatRoaringFork.org
The Homeowner application packet includes the application forms and a checklist of everything that must be sent in with the completed application.
Submit your application by mail or hand delivered to 53 Calaway Ct., Glenwood Springs CO 81601 - 707 Wapiti Ct., Rifle, CO 81650 – or emailed to info@HabitatRoaringFork.org
Step 2: Initial Application Review & Credit Check
Once the application deadline has passed, the Homeowner Selection Committee will review all completed applications and select the families/individuals, based on HFH criteria, who will continue to the next phase.
Credit reports will also be pulled once an application is received.
Habitat RFV will send a letter to the families who do not meet the initial criteria and/or do not pass the credit check.
Step 3: Information Gathering
The Homeowner Selection Committee will gather further information about families/individuals who have met the initial criteria & passed the credit check, such as verification of citizenship/lawful permanent residency, employment verification, and landlord references.
After gathering all of the information, the Committee meets to decide which homeowners will advance to the next phase of the application process, and a letter will be sent to the homeowners who will not continue on with the next phase.
Step 4: Homeowner Interviews
Next, each eligible family will be visited and interviewed at their current residence by members of the Homeowner Selection Committee. The purpose of the visit/interview is for Habitat to get to know the potential families on a more personal level, to learn more about each family and to answer any questions that they have about Habitat homeownership.
Habitat RFV will also check personal references and may request further information during this stage.
Step 5: Homeowner/Family Selection
After all the home visits are completed, the Committee will meet to make a final decision and choose which homeowners will be recommended to Habitat’s Homeowner Sub-Committee to become the next Habitat families. The Board of Directors will adopt the recommendation of the Homeowner Sub-Committee. All families will be notified at this time as to whether or not they have been selected.
Step 6: Partnership
If selected for Habitat homeownership, you will begin 250 “sweat equity” volunteer hours (per adult) and will participate in homeowner education classes.
Step 7: Homeownership!
Upon completion of all sweat equity hours, approval of a mortgage through one of our third party lending partners, and verification of down payment funds, you will begin the closing process. Once you become a proud Habitat homeowner you will move into your home and begin paying your mortgage. You may also be asked to participate in a dedication ceremony held when you move into your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Habitat will assist homeowners in interest options during the purchasing process.
Our partner families are selected based on the following four criteria:
Are Habitat Homes Given Away?
Where do you build your homes?
We build in the following counties:
- Pitkin
- Eagle
- Garfield County
Our service area spans from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to Parachute.
We are breaking ground at our new development, Wapiti Commons, in the Spring of 2022.
If you are interested in getting involved with Habitat outside of the Roaring Fork Valley service area, visit Habitat for Humanity of Colorado for a map of other affiliates in Colorado.
I have to build my own home? What if I have no construction skills?
Habitat does not require any previous construction skills or knowledge to be a volunteer or a future homeowner. We have a fully trained staff and long-term volunteers who are eager to teach our future homeowners and volunteers the skills they need to be successful on the construction site.
What should I do before applying with Habitat for Humanity to be prepared?
If you plan to apply for Habitat’s Homeownership Program during the next application round, you can prepare by collecting your financial documents. Get a recent copy of your credit report and check to make sure the information is correct. You can get one free copy of your credit report each year at www.annualcreditreport.com.
What is good credit, how will I know if I have it?
Good credit means that you pay all your bills on time each month and you don’t have excessive debt. Your credit is your responsibility and maintaining good credit is one of the most important thing you can do for your financial health. Having good credit means that you have a good credit report. A credit report is a record of the personal financial transactions that make up your credit history, such as credit cards, car loans, personal loans and negative items such as collections from utility or telephone companies.
How does your credit history look? You can check yours by getting your credit report. You are able to get a free credit report once a year from each of the three reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To obtain a copy of your free credit report, visit: www.annualcreditreport.com
What if my credit report shows outstanding collections, debt, bankruptcies, judgments, and liens?
The Homeowner Selection Committee considers the whole picture of an applicant and looks for applicants who are ready to accept the responsibility of homeownership. At the same time, we do not want to sell an applicant a home that she or he cannot afford. We do not expect applicants to have a perfect credit history. We do require applicants with negative credit accounts to have a plan to fix any outstanding collections or past-due items. We are unable to partner with applicants who have active, unpaid judgments or liens. Excessive debts and/or very recent unresolved collections may also disqualify an applicant.
Applicants who have filed for bankruptcy in the past should show a good credit history since the bankruptcy, and bankruptcies must have been discharged at least three years prior to the application for housing. Certain requirements may be waived in cases of personal or natural disaster.
You may access one free copy of your credit report each year at: www.annualcreditreport.com.
What if my application is not approved? Can I apply for homeownership again in the future?
Absolutely. We have limited available spots in our Homeownership Program. Sadly, this means we cannot accept every qualified applicant. If an applicant is not approved during the current application process, we encourage her/him to improve eligibility (if applicable) and reapply during a future application round.
Some of our partner families were denied the first time they applied due to outstanding collections and debts, income that was below our limits or other issues. They successfully improved their eligibility, reapplied and were accepted into the program.
Will I be able to apply if I am separated from my spouse and applying alone?
Your divorce will need to be final before you apply.
Will I qualify if I do not have any children?
Habitat cannot discriminate based on family size or structure.
Can I qualify if I am self-employed?
Three years of tax returns will need to be provided for self-employed applicants. However, if you have two years of returns and are working on the third you may still qualify.
What types of income will be used to see if I qualify?
W2 and/or 1099 income, Social Security, child support (needs to be steady and documented), disability income.
Do I need to be a permanent resident to apply?
Yes, all applicants need to have residency status in the country before they can apply for Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program.
How many years will my mortgage be?
Loan terms depend on gross monthly income at the time the home is purchased and the lending partner that is selected and can range from 20-38 years. The monthly payment (principal, taxes, and insurance) is encouraged to be under 30% of a family’s gross monthly income.
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Other housing resources:
Whether you are ready to apply for a home through Habitat for Humanity or just beginning your home buying journey and you believe you can qualify for affordable housing here are a couple of resources for you to explore to get started:
Rental and Ownership Opportunities:
Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority- rental and ownership opportunities, including home within Basalt Vista if you work full time within Pitkin County
Roaring Fork School District, including homes within Basalt Vista if you work for the school district
Garfield County Housing Authority-
Grand Junction Housing Authority-
Free Market Financing
USDA has financing options for families who earn below 80% AMI for the county in which they are interested in purchasing, loans can be up to 38 years, with low-interest rates, and subsidies based on income. If you are interested in finding out if you can qualify for one of these loans, email Kristen at KristenW@HabitatRoaringFork.org.
Housing Resources
Whether you are ready to apply for a home through Habitat for Humanity or just beginning your home buying journey and believe you can qualify for affordable housing, here are a few resources to explore to get you started.
Rental & Ownership Opportunities
Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority
Rental and ownership opportunities. apcha.org
Garfield County Housing Authority
Rental and ownership opportunities. garfieldhousing.com
Free Market Financing
USDA has financing options for families who earn below 80% AMI for the county in which they are interested in purchasing, loans can be up to 38 years, with low-interest rates, and subsidies based on income. If you are interested in finding out if you can qualify for one of these loans, email Kristen Wilmes at KristenW@HabitatRoaringFork.org
What families are saying about Habitat homeownership
“Although I got to paint my room, my favorite part of the house is the doorbell! It isn’t just a doorbell, it is a sign of welcome, a sign to say this is your home. I’ve never had a doorbell that has ever worked and sometimes there wasn’t even one. So, when I see that doorbell, I know this is our forever home.”
Maryann (Age 16), Habitat Homeowner Family Member
“We have been in our home a month now and can say with sincerity, we love the Basalt Vista community and our neighbors. It’s clear that we share many of the same values: hard work, family, and giving back. We think it’s important to roll up your sleeves and experience new perspectives. Our 5 year old can attest that volunteering fills her bucket up too! Volunteering with Habitat and Basalt Vista has been a pleasure. We are passionate about Habitat Roaring Fork not only because we found our forever home through them, but because we want to help other deserving families work towards the same goal."
Liz Sinkinson, Basalt Vista Homeowner