Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast

Mortgages are held by the local Habitat affiliate office until the mortgage is paid off. Read more...

The selling price of a home to a family is computed by determining costs in two separate areas: (a) construction and (b) site acquisitions and development. Construction costs include the cost of purchased building material, the value of donated building material, contracted labour costs (or value if donated) and administration costs (at a maximum of [...] Read more...

The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a fund that is used to build more homes. The more homes that exist, the more cash flow there is available for further building. This “revolving fund for humanity” fuels exponential growth in the number of houses that can be built by an affiliate over time. Read more...

The income of all Habitat homeowners is reviewed on an annual basis. If income increases, monthly mortgage payments are adjusted to remain at 30% of their monthly income. If income decreases, usually due to a temporary situation such as a job loss, similar adjustments may be made to maintain affordability during this period of decreased [...] Read more...

The Habitat mortgage is designed to keep monthly payments low, encourage long-term commitment and prevent short-term profit. This is done by way of a second mortgage. The first mortgage reflects the actual cost of the house, which is usually far less than it’s fair market value. The second mortgage reflects the difference between the actual [...] Read more...

Habitat makes every effort to work with the homeowner families to avoid foreclosure through financial counseling, renegotiated mortgages, etc. Strategies such as payment plans and deeds in lieu of foreclosure are implemented when possible. While foreclosure is the last resort, sometimes it cannot be avoided. Ignoring homeowners’ delinquencies can be unfair to other homeowners. Read more...

The three criteria to qualify for a Habitat home are need for affordable housing ability to repay a Habitat mortgage and willingness to partner with Habitat. Need for affordable housing is defined by a family income that is below the government-set Low Income Cut-Off (poverty line) for their particular region, and existing living conditions that are inadequate in [...] Read more...

The three criteria to qualify for a Habitat home are need for affordable housing ability to repay a Habitat mortgage and willingness to partner with Habitat. Need for affordable housing is defined by a family income that is below the government-set Low Income Cut-Off (poverty line) for their particular region, and existing living conditions that are inadequate in [...] Read more...

Through volunteer labour, efficient management and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner. Habitat houses follow standardized design criteria that maintain the “simple and decent” archetype. Most Habitat projects are single dwellings or semi-detached homes, but Habitat for Humanity is expanding its build projects to include [...] Read more...

Over time, a families’ equity in their home increases. Habitat families also often see an improvement in their financial situation since the percentage of their income being spent on housing remains at 30%. Prior to purchasing a Habitat home many of these families are spending over 50% of their income on rent. A safe, healthy living [...] Read more...