How is Habitat different from a traditional bank or home builder?

Habitat is a nonprofit organization that provides three distinct services in the homeownership process: home construction, mortgage financing and mortgage servicing. These services would normally be given by for-profit real estate businesses. Additionally, Habitat staff members serve as housing mentors, here to support our homeowners in learning the ins and outs of homeownership, getting through challenging times and celebrating successes.

By providing all of these services by ourselves, Habitat is able to offer its homeowners a substantial amount of savings. We are able to open the door to homeownership for those who would not be able to buy a home of their own.

Because Habitat builds homes with affordability in mind, Habitat homeowners have more limited choices about their homes than someone buying from a traditional homebuilder. While Habitat homeowners are able to choose things like the color of the counter tops, the homeowner will have limited choices about things such as the location of the home or the number of bedrooms and bathrooms inside the home.

Plus, Habitat is able to offer mortgage loans with 0% interest allowing our homeowners to save thousands of dollars over the course of a home loan.