Eligibility Criteria for Self-Help Housing

 

Low-Income Families  Become Home Owners
Eligible applicants receive a loan from the Federal Government or local lender

 


The applicant must meet lender requirements
The applicant must meet
lender requirements

 

Low-Income Families Become Home Owners
Applicants must meet the requirements of the lender (in most instances, "USDA - Rural Development" and Northwest Housing Development).

Lender Requirements Include (but are not limited to):

  • Must have a dependable source of income.
  • Must have a good credit rating and show that financial obligations are paid responsibly.
  • Must not have filed bankruptcy within the past three years.
  • Must not already own or be buying their own home (unless the living conditions of the home are inadequate).
  • Must be unable to obtain home ownership financing elsewhere (USDA - Rural Development requirement).
  • Must be able to prove their income is adequate to repay the loan and cover taxes, insurance and all other household expenses.

An applicant must be considered to be in the "very low" or "low"-income category as specified by federal guidelines.

  • Low-income means adjusted income of 80% or less of median income for your county.
  • Very low-income means adjusted income of 50% or less of median income for your county.
  • If your income is less than 50% of the median amount for your household size you may be eligible for priority processing.

The eligible adjusted income is determined by the number of persons living in the household and certain special circumstances. Discuss special circumstances with a Northwest Housing Development Group Coordinator.

Household Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
King County                
80% of median
44,800 51,200 57,600 64,000 69,100 74,250 79,350 84,500
50% of median
29,500 33,700 37,950 42,150 45,500 48,900 52,250 55,650
                 
Pierce County                
80% of median
38,150 43,600 49,050 54,500 58,850 63,200 67,600 71,950
50% of median
23,850 27,250 30,650 34,050 36,750 39,500 42,200 44,950
                 
Thurston County                
80% of median
39,200 44,800 50,400 56,000 60,500 64,950 69,450 73,900
50% of median
24,500 28,000 31,500 35,000 37,800 40,600 43,400 46,200
                 
Grays Harbor County                
80% of median
30,500 34,900 39,250 43,600 47,100 50,600 54,050 57,550
50% of median
19,100 21,800 24,550 27,250 39,450 31,600 33,800 35,950
                 
• add 8% of 4-person limit for each person in excess of 8, For which $5500 should be added to the respective Low-Income limit for 8+ person families

Northwest Housing Development Requirements Include:

  • A commitment by the applicant that their household works a total minimum of 35 hours per week on all of the homes in their construction group.
  • All applicants must provide truthful, accurate and timely responses to all information requested by Northwest Housing Development and USDA - Rural Development.

Financing Information

  • USDA - Rural Development or a private lender will finance 100% of the loan amount necessary to build your home.
  • The loan period is 30, 33 or 38 years.
  • You are not required to make monthly payments during the course of construction of your house.
  • You must begin making monthly mortgage payments 30 days after the final inspection of your house.

The rewards of home ownership are immense. However, self-help housing is not for everyone. It is a hard and challenging program. It means giving up a good deal of your free time during the course of construction. The work can be difficult at times and you will need plenty of stamina and motivation. Once your house is complete, however, you will have a home you can look at with pride.

[Online Application]
[Building Sites] [Construction] [Qualifying For Your Loan] [Step-by-Step Process]

For more information contact us today.

 

 

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Northwest Housing Development
3640 S Cedar, Suite H
Tacoma, WA 98409
Phone: 253-441-2170      Toll Free: 1-888-U BUILD 1      TTY Users: 1-800-833-6388
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