Homeownership Opportunities
The window for accepting pre-questionnaires has closed.
Please check back for information about future homeownership opportunities.
Is homeownership right for you?
Buying a home is a big life decision. It is an opportunity to build wealth, put down roots, and create a stable life for your family. Homeownership is also a big commitment, with many challenges and demands.
As you consider the exciting opportunity to become a homeowner, we encourage you to reflect on what it will mean for you to buy a home.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Homeownership may be right for you if you want to put down deep roots and stay in the same place for many years. If you plan to stay in the beach communities for the next 10 - 15 years and expect your family and career to remain fairly stable, this might be a good time to buy a home.
When you purchase a home, it is yours! That comes with many freedoms and also responsibilities. You are responsible for mowing the lawn, servicing your HVAC system, and hiring a professional to fix something that isn't working - there is no property manager or landlord to call. If you have time in your schedule to manage a property and enjoy taking care of yard work and other household tasks, then this might be a good time to buy a home.
Becoming a Beaches Habitat for Humanity homeownership is a long-term commitment. It takes time to be approved, complete sweat equity, and finish construction. It's important that you have a safe place to live during the long and sometimes unpredictable process of becoming a homeowner.
Purchasing a Beaches Habitat home means gathering documents, meeting with people, completing sweat equity, and attending workshops. It's important to think about how meeting the program requirements will impact your schedule - Do you have time to volunteer and attend meetings? Is there someone who can take care of your children while you're completing sweat equity hours?
Beaches Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes. Owners have the opportunity to make some personalized selections. Many features are the same for all program participants, including the brand and style of appliances and the paint color on the inside and outside of the house. Of course, you can make changes to your home once you purchase it!
If you answered yes to all five questions, please proceed to the next section.
Our Homes
Beaches Habitat builds 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom homes. Land is very expensive to purchase in the beaches area. Therefore, we may build a few single-family dwellings, but primarily, we build duplexes or triplexes.
After being approved for the program, Beaches Habitat homeowners do not select the property that they will buy. Beaches Habitat assigns addresses to applicants based on availability.
Use the links below to get an idea of the homes we build:
Lots # 9, 10, & 11 Ribault Park Street
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Neighborhood information will be posted during the next application period.
Bedroom information will be posted during the next application period.
Home sizes and layouts will be posted during the next application period.
Beaches Habitat assigns addresses to applicants based on availability.
If you answered yes to all four questions, please proceed to the next section.
Program Requirements
People partner with Beaches Habitat to build a place they can call home. Homebuyers work alongside volunteers and construction staff to help build their own homes, which they then purchase with an affordable mortgage.
To qualify to purchase a Habitat home, you must meet the following program requirements:
To be considered for homeownership at Beaches Habitat for Humanity, you must:
- live or work in our service area, east of St. John's Bluff Road, for at least one year
- be a US citizen or legal permanent resident
To be considered for homeownership at Beaches Habitat for Humanity, you must:
- Be a first-time homebuyer, defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as not having owned a home in the past three years
- Be currently living in substandard housing, which can include overcrowded, subsidized, or unaffordable housing
To be considered for homeownership at Beaches Habitat for Humanity, you must:
- Provide proof of at least one year of steady income
- Have a credit score of 620 or higher, with no charge-offs, no unsatisfied public records, and no bankruptcies within the last four years.
- Be able to make a $1000 down payment.
- Meet the income requirements based on HUD's 2022 Monthly Gross Income, Effective April 18, 2022.
| Household Size | Min. Monthly Income | Max. Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,930 | $3,904 |
| 2 | $3,345 | $4,463 |
| 3 | $3,765 | $5,021 |
| 4 | $4,180 | $5,575 |
| 5 | $4,515 | $6,025 |
| 6 | $4,850 | $6,466 |
| 7 | $5,185 | $6,917 |
| 8 | $5,520 | $7,363 |
To be considered for homeownership at Beaches Habitat for Humanity, you must:
- Attend a homeowner orientation session
- Complete a minimum of 300 hours of "sweat equity" - the actual number of hours required is based on household size and makeup
- Complete required financial education and homebuyer preparation courses
Criminal background checks will be requested for applicants, co-applicants, and all household members 16 years of age or older. You will not be eligible to apply for the program if the criminal background check shows any of the following:
- Sexual predator and/or sexual offender
- Felony charges within the last five years
- Misdemeanor charges within the last two years
If married, both spouses must sign the mortgage.
After reviewing the Program Requirements, if you believe you meet all criteria, proceed to the next section.
Our Prospective Homebuyer Selection Process
Potential applicants will begin by completing a pre-questionnaire. The pre-questionnaire is available online and at our office. Use the link at the bottom of this page to complete and submit the pre-questionnaire online.
Potential applicants can pick up a paper copy of the pre-questionnaire at the Beaches Habitat administrative office at 797 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach, during normal business hours. After completing a paper copy of the pre-questionnaire, potential applicants must hand it to a member of the Beaches Habitat team at the office. Beaches Habitat will not accept pre-questionnaires delivered by U.S. Mail or left in the office mailbox.
Dates to submit pre-questionnaires will be posted here during the next application period.
Due to the high volume of interest in the program, applications will be distributed by lottery (random drawing).
Completed pre-questionnaires will be entered into a lottery.
Lottery details will be posted here during the next application period.
Beaches Habitat will distribute applications to the people selected in the lottery. Applicants will have one week to submit the completed application and required documentation related to income, family status, etc.
Beaches Habitat will review each application submitted to determine eligibility, including a credit check, criminal background check, and public record review. Beaches Habitat will interview applicants and visit their current residences.
Informational Meeting details will be posted here during the next application period.
Ready to Get Started?
The window for submitting pre-questionnaires has closed.
Please check back for information about future opportunities for homeownership.
Questions? Contact Joyce Freeman at (904) 595-5797 or homes@beacheshabitat.org.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity does business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve/national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Beaches Habitat for Humanity, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified personnel for all our positions in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve/national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.