Homeownership
Habitat Mortgages
Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii homes are sold to families on a no-profit basis. Homeowners make a 1% down payment to start the process, and then are responsible for making monthly no-interest mortgage payments over a 20 year period. These payments will equal about 21% of the home owner's monthly income, usually $350 to $400.
Qualifications and Eligibility
The selection criteria we consider when selecting our families are:
- You must have a demonstrated need for decent and affordable housing, such as living in overcrowded or unsanitary conditions, or a home that is considered unsafe for children or the elderly.
- Habitat homebuyers must have a stable income and a reasonable credit history, with no outstanding judgments. You also must have enough income to cover taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance expenses and the mortgage payment.
- Willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii by contributing 500 or more hours of sweat equity helping to build their home or other Habitat homes.
Additional Considerations:
- You must have access to your own land. At this time, Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii is placing priority on families who own their own land (have a clean title) or have a long-term lease on their land.
- Priority is currently placed on families with young children at risk of homelessness and the elderly in need of a safe, decent home.
Applicants for homeownership must meet the following requirements:
- Lived in Hawaii County for at least 3 years.
- Must have a reasonable credit history with no bankruptcy claims or outstanding judgments. They also must be able to pay their bills on time.
- Home buyers and their friends and family must contribute 500 or more hours of work toward the construction of Habitat homes or other Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii activities or events.
- No one in the household may be involved in criminal activity. Criminal background checks will occur.
- Must be willing to cooperate with Habitat for Humanity, learn from them, and do your best to become successful homeowners.
- Family income meets the Habitat for Humanity income guidelines listed.
If you answer yes to most of these questions, we encourage you to put in an application to Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii:
- My home/place of residence is overcrowded.
- My home/place of residence is unsafe/unsanitary for children or the elderly.
- My home/place of residence is too expensive.
Please call our office to have information and a pre-application sent to you. Once these items are returned to the Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii office they will be reviewed by the Family Selection and Support Committee. If the Family Selection and Support Committee feels that you may be a good candidate for a Habitat for Humanity Home or home renovation, they will invite to fill out a full application, which must also be sent back to Habitat for review. Feel free to call us anytime at 331-8010.
Income Guidelines
Families are income eligible if they make between 40-70% of the median income for West Hawaii. The current median income for a family of 4 is $63,400. Qualifying income minimums and maximums are determined by family size and are below 50% of the area median income. These guidelines are adjusted each year and are based on numbers defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These figures include all forms of income: employment, public assistance of cash or food stamps, child support, alimony, etc.
Applying Habitat families must make at least 40% of the median income, but no more than 70% of the median income for their family size : 
We reserve the right to revise these guidelines at any time. Falling into these income limits does not guarantee the right to partner with Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii.
The Application Process
If you think you might meet the qualifications, please complete the information packet below (Note: There is a general packet for applicants that own their own land or applying for the lots in Ocean View, and a DHHL packet for applicants who have a lease on Hawaiian Home Lands in Kawaihae, Hawaii or at the LaiOpua project in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii).
Complete and initial both, and return to Habitat office. After our family selection committee reviews the application, we will contact you regarding the status of your application. We are located in the Kaloko Industrial Park in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, near Costco at 73-5576 Kauhola Street, between West Hawaii Suzuki Motorsports and Big Island Windows.