Homeownership with
Sumter Habitat
Sumter Habitat for Humanity partners with qualified families and individuals like you to provide comfortable, high-quality homes with affordable mortgages.
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For households throughout the US, owning a home provides a stable foundation for building a better life - from increased financial stability and improved quality of life to creating a sense of home and community involvement.
About our homes
Sumter Habitat believes everyone deserves a safe, comfortable place to live and this is reflected in the thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and expertise that we put into our house plans.​
Sumter Habitat's Program currently includes:
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New build, single-family detached homes
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Recycle homes - previously built single-family Habitat homes purchased, refurbished, and resold to the next Habitat family
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Senior Cottage homes
Making affordable homeownership possible
In Sumter's real estate market where home prices, interest rates and down payment requirements are all rising, achieving homeownership might seem like an impossible dream. At Sumter Habitat, our Homebuyer Program can help families and individuals who live in Sumter County turn their dream of owning an affordable home into reality.
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Benefits of owning a Habitat home include:​
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Improved quality of life through financial stability​
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An opportunity to build wealth through home value appreciation​
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Affordable mortgage payments that fit your budget​
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Below market interest rates
The application process
Sumter Habitat's Homeownership Application Cycle is open on an as-needed basis. To be notified when we are beginning a new application cycle, fill out our interest form!​
Step 1:
When the application cycle is open, the first step to obtain an application packet is to participate in an Information Presentation - either in person or online. ​
In Person: We will hold information sessions in person at our offices several times during an open application cycle. Sessions are about 1.5 hours with limited seating. Advance signup will be required.​
Online: We will make a self-guided information presentation available on our website when the cycle opens. You will be able to view and move through the presentation at your convenience as many times as you'd like. When you're ready, there will be a link at the end for a brief quiz about the presentation's material. You will receive an application packet via email within 72 hours of a successful quiz completion (at least 7 of 10 questions correct, 3 attempt limit).
Step 2:
Following a successful quiz completion you will receive an application packet via email to be printed.
After attending an in-person session, you will receive an application packet in person.
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You will fill out the application, collect and copy all necessary documents, and ensure all items on the checklist are ready to turn in.
Step 3:
When your application packet is ready to submit, you will use the link provided in your follow up email to schedule a submission appointment with Sumter Habitat staff. Appointments are approximately 30 minutes and we will ensure all documents are correct and present before accepting your application.
No applications will be accepted via email or without an appointment at this time.
Need for housing
Sumter Habitat's vision is a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live and the need for housing looks different for everyone.
Overcrowded or Substandard Housing
overcrowded is defined as
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more than 2 children sharing a room
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2 children of opposite genders sharing a room
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children sharing a room with adults and/or multiple adults sharing a room
Cost-burdened
Paying more than 30% of your gross monthly income (pre-tax) on rent
Unstable Housing
Public housing, housing assistance programs, or renting a room from a friend or family member
Credit score must be at least 575
Cannot be a homeowner at the time of application
Ability to pay
The ability for you to afford your mortgage is essential to qualifying for a Habitat home. We want you to thrive and flourish in your new home for years to come.​
To financially qualify for Habitat’s Homebuyer program:​
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Income must be stable, and applicants must have annual income of 50-80% of HUD’s Area Median Income guidelines. See chart below for these guidelines.
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Two years of continuous employment; you must be at your current job for one year.​
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No more than $2,000 delinquent debt (past due accounts, collections, judgments, liens, and/or repossessions) at the time of application​.
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No more than $10,000 in medical collections​.
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No more than 40% of maximum available credit limit in outstanding (revolving) debt excluding car loans, student loans, and other secured debt.​
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Bankruptcy must have been discharged for at least two years for Chapter 13 and three years for Chapter 7 at the time of application.​
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Must meet our minimum Debt-to-Income Requirement that allows you to afford all monthly debts with more than 12 months of payments remaining, along with an estimated mortgage payment.
We encourage all applicants to pull their FREE credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com before applying so you are aware of your debts and what may be barriers to becoming pre-approved for the program.
General Income Guidelines
These are subject to change, and having income within these guidelines does not guarantee eligibility.
Senior Cottages
Traditional Homeownership
Willingness to partner
Purchasing a home through Sumter Habitat doesn’t require a down payment. Instead, Habitat families agree to partner with Habitat by:​
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Performing 300 Homebuyer in-Process (HIP) Volunteer hours, which includes construction hours, ReStore hours, education hours, and community engagement opportunities.​
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Living in Sumter County for at least the last 12 months.
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Being willing to live within Sumter city limits in the Habitat homes available.
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Committing to a drug-free community.
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Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of requirements and are subject to change.