Homeownership Program Criteria

Please see the information and list of qualifications below:

Step 1

Review Program Qualifications

General Requirements

  • Must be a first-time homebuyer

  • Must currently live and/or work in Broward County for at least a year

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (green card holder)

Financial Requirements

  • Show a stable employment history
  • Have sufficient credit history, with no accounts in collection, no unsatisfied public records, and no bankruptcies within the last three years.
  • Establish a monthly savings account
  • Total debt-to-income ratio including a Habitat mortgage payment of 30% of household income must be less than 43%

Step 2

Determine Eligibility

To see if you qualify to the Homeownership Program, you have two options:

  • Attend a virtual Information Session to hear more about Habitat’s program requirements and learn next steps for applying to the homeownership program.

  • During open enrollment fill out our Pre-Qualification Questionnaire to see if you meet all program requirements. You will receive a notification within 30 days, either inviting you to the next stage in the application process or providing reasons why you do not qualify.

  • At Habitat Broward, the journey to homeownership truly begins once a Homeowner Candidate is accepted into our program. From that point forward, each Future Homeowner is paired with our in-house Housing Advisor, who serves as their dedicated financial coach throughout the program.

    During an initial intake session, the Housing Advisor works closely with the Future Homeowner to assess their financial situation and establish a personalized plan. From there, monthly one-on-one coaching sessions focus on:

    • Budgeting and financial planning
    • Credit health and improvement strategies
    • Debt reduction and savings goals
    • Action steps toward long-term financial stability
    • This ongoing support empowers Future Homeowners to make informed financial decisions, build healthy financial habits, and prepare for successful homeownership.

For more information about our Homeownership Program, please contact our Homeowner Services Team at homeownership@habitatbroward.org.

Step 3

Attend Session

Approved applicants will receive an invitation to the next stage in the application process, which include the following:

  • Step-by-step on how to complete your submission packet

  • Receive your Homeownership Program application packet and documents request list. Submission packets will be reviewed by our team to verify income, credit, and background.

If information provided meets all of the criteria and guidelines, applicants will move to the next step. The application process is usually completed in 30 days.

Step 4

Home Visit

The Home Visit is an important step to determine and assess housing need.

After Home Visits have been completed, an independent Home Selection Committee will make their board recommendations for final selections into the Homeownership Program.