Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program (DMV Affiliates)

At a glance

Amount

A newly built or renovated home sold with an affordable mortgage sized so the payment stays near 30% of income

Type of help

Other help

Where

Nationwide

Run by

Habitat for Humanity International through local affiliates: Habitat Metro Maryland, Habitat DC and Northern Virginia, Habitat of the Chesapeake

First-time buyer

Repeat buyers welcome

Income limit

Up to 80% of area median income

Minimum credit score

580

Homebuyer education

Required

How the other help works

A special purchase path, discount, or loan type that lowers what you need at closing.

• Monthly payment: Yes

Who qualifies

• Repeat buyers welcome. Affiliates focus on households with a housing need rather than a strict first-time rule. Each affiliate publishes its own criteria.
• Income. Habitat International targets households at or below 60% of area median income. The three DMV affiliates all publish a 30% to 80% AMI range, adjusted for household size, with Metro Maryland saying most buyers fall between 30% and 60% (checked 2026-09-23).
• Property types: Habitat-built or Habitat-renovated single-family homes, townhomes, and condos in the affiliate's service area. Must be your primary residence.
• Three tests at every affiliate: a demonstrated need for decent, affordable housing, the ability to pay an affordable mortgage, and a willingness to partner through sweat equity and classes.
• Habitat Metro Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George's): lived or worked in the county for at least one year, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, credit score of 580 or higher, up to 500 sweat equity hours by family size. Applications were closed when we checked.
• Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia (habitatdcnova.org): attend an information session, tour a specific home, then apply for that home. Income 30% to 80% of AMI. The affiliate has described about 300 sweat equity hours.
• Habitat of the Chesapeake (Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Howard): income 30% to 80% of AMI, credit score of 600 or higher, stable employment, under $1,000 in collections, 250 sweat equity hours for one adult (50 of them education), 350 for two adults.

How to apply

1. 1Pick the affiliate for where you want to live: Metro Maryland for Montgomery and Prince George's, DC and Northern Virginia for the District and NOVA, Chesapeake for the Baltimore region.
2. 2Attend the affiliate's homebuyer information session. In DC and Northern Virginia and in the Baltimore region this is required before you can apply.
3. 3Submit the pre-qualification or full application with pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and ID. DC and Northern Virginia has you apply to a specific listed home.
4. 4If selected, sign the partnership agreement and begin sweat equity hours and homeownership classes. Expect 12 to 18 months from approval to settlement at Chesapeake.
5. 5Close on the home with the affiliate's mortgage or a bank mortgage the affiliate helps arrange, often layered with local down payment assistance.

Watch out for

• Habitat is slow by design. From information session to keys is often a year or more, and affiliates only sell the homes they build or renovate.
• Homes are in specific locations the affiliate chooses. You do not go house hunting on the open market with a Habitat approval.
• Application windows open and close. Metro Maryland had applications closed when we checked. Join the email list so you hear when they reopen.
• Sweat equity is a real commitment, from 250 to 500 hours depending on the affiliate and household. Plan your work schedule around it.
• Habitat homes often carry resale restrictions or shared appreciation terms so they stay affordable for the next family. Read the deed terms before you commit.

Straight answers

Sources

• Habitat for Humanity International, Apply for a Habitat house (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity International, Qualifications for Habitat homeownership (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Home Purchase overview (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, Homeownership Program (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, Program Eligibility Criteria (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Homeownership Program (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Homeowner Requirements (read Sep 23, 2026)

Program details are summarized from public sources and change without notice. Funding badges reflect the last time we checked, not a guarantee of availability. This is buyer education from a real estate agent, not a loan pre-approval or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is decided by each program administrator and your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.