Has any one here had any experience with Habitat for Humanity?

I have only good things about them, no minuses that I am aware of.

She is really, really excited. I’m a little skeptical, though. But it isn’t a government entity, is it. That’s good.

Back in the late 90’s the government came up with this brainstorm to help poor people buy a house. It was a disaster from the beginning and I’ll bet there were very, very few of us who didn’t end up wiping out. What it as was that the government paid a portion of your mortgage, for the first 15 years. The payments were ~$800 and I paid $450 of that. After a couple of years something didn’t seem right…..I did some research, and only about $1.00 of that $450 went to the principal! I called, and the rep I spoke to said, “Well, that’s the name of the game!”

The other really stupid thing was that they prequalified me for a $90,000 home!! No way in hell would my income allow me to pay mortgage on a $90,000 home! I knew $50,000 was my limit, but greed got ahold of me and I ended up buying a $70,000 home.

HH is a well-respected, honest, non profit.

The only “catch” is she will most likely need to put some “sweat equity” into the house.

Oh, she’ll be happy to do that! And family can put in up to X number of hours. My husband and my son are both excellent remodeling dudes.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, guys. I’m feeling better and better about this!

They will be building it for her. She gets to pick the siding, the floors, the counter tops…..man, this is overwhelming!

I donate to HH, my retired father helps build HH houses. It’s a good org

It’s one of the charities I back without hesitation. Habitat and Oxfam are at the top of my list.

I am under the impression that family can put in “up to” 100 hours. Why would there be a limit on the hours?

I doubt if there’s a limit, though there is a minimum.

Well, she has to put a certain number of hours of her own sweat equity into it, and when family volunteers it comes off of her hours. That’s why there is a limit. I think it’s a bit odd myself, but thems the rules.

Here are some of the requirements…

http://habitatgnh.org/homeownership/requirements-for-homeownership-applicants/

One block over from where I live is a complete Habitat neighborhood. I have heard of no pitfalls. When my neighborhood heard that they were building a community of Habitat houses everyone was beside themselves because it was going to drive the price of our homes down. I can tell you first hand that my Habitat neighbors make better neighbors than all but one of my neighbors who bought their house in the conventional manner. I have NO complaints with HfH!!!

I know what the requirements were. My daughter told me. She was approved.