How we build is just as important as what we build.  Habitat houses are built with a contribution of five hundred hours of "sweat equity", labor on the part of the Partner Families.

By investing themselves in the building process, Partner Families gain self-reliance, self-esteem and new skills.

By investing time, money materials, and their expertise, Habitat volunteers, donors, organizations, businesses and professional trades gain new relationships, which extend far beyond what is imagined.  Habitat brings together people from all walks of life, with varied skills and economic backgrounds.

Method
The Family Selection Committee solicits applicants for Partner Families throughout Iowa: Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux; in South Dakota: Union; In Nebraska: Dakota;, whose income is between 30% and 50% of the median.  Applicants must be legal residents and have lived in Iowa: Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux; in South Dakota: Union; In Nebraska: Dakota; for at least one year.  Families are selected based on their need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat.

Selected families who are successful in completing the requirements will receive a no-interest mortgage on a house built to accommodate their family size and budget.

The Family will be expected to make a one percent down payment upon closing of their house and will pay an average mortgage payment of $350 per month.  The Family will also be paying their property insurance and taxes, thereby reinvesting in the community.

The sales of Habitat houses to Partner Families is structured giving Habitat a First Right of Refusal to buy, which then assures continued affordability beyond the first owner.  The down payments and monthly mortgage payments are also reinvested and used to build more houses through a revolving fund.  In this way, we can ensure that Habitat homes will go on meeting the need for affordable housing in Iowa: Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux; in South Dakota: Union; In Nebraska: Dakota;.

A typical example of annual gross income required to qualify for a Habitat home is between $16,400 and $27,300 for a family of three and between $18,200 and $30,350 for a family of four.