Frequently Asked Questions

No. Atlanta Habitat provides qualifying individuals and families the opportunity to purchase affordable homes. Our homebuyers meet income and credit guidelines, attend home maintenance and other classes, invest time in volunteering and work hard supporting the build of their own homes.

There is a required down payment of $800 after the homeowner’s application has been approved. This amount can be paid in installments.

Approved homebuyers partner with Atlanta Habitat in the construction of other homes as well as their own. Homebuyers can also complete sweat equity hours by working at the Atlanta Habitat ReStore or the warehouse, participating at outreach events, attending community meetings, and taking elective classes.

No. In the Atlanta Habitat program, the homebuyer lives in the house for the first year while completing requirements, and they pay a monthly occupancy fee. At the end of the first year, if the homebuyer has made all of their payments on time, completed their sweat-equity and homeowner education requirements, they purchase the home from Atlanta Habitat.

Corporations, faith-based organizations, foundations, and individuals partner with us, making a financial commitment and providing volunteers to build our homes alongside the homebuyer.

Atlanta Habitat relies on the support of sponsors and donors to fund construction costs and volunteers to help build homes, which saves the homebuyer an average of $40,000 in labor and materials.

• Principal payment that goes to pay down the amount owed on the home loan
• Property taxes
• Homeowners’ insurance
• Sanitation fees if home is located in the City of Atlanta.
• Termite insurance bond
• $25 saved in the homeowner’s Maintenance Account, which can be accessed at any time to make repairs to the home

Five to 10 houses are under construction at any given time throughout the year. We build or rehab about 50 homes annually.

Yes. We purchase blighted properties and renovate them to like-new condition using the same high-quality building standards as our new homes. These homes are additional options for first-time homebuyers. Our renovation work is key to affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and preserving neighborhood character.

Homeowners pay NO interest on their mortgages.

Yes. Every home exceeds specific green building, energy efficiency, and sustainability guidelines.  From site preparation to the final build day, we use recognized sustainability practices in home design, materials, construction, landscaping, and waste management. This results in lower utility bill payments for our homeowners.

Monthly mortgage payments typically average less than $1000 and include an escrow account for taxes, insurance, a termite bond, city sanitation fees and a maintenance savings fund.

‍No-interest mortgage
Save a considerable amount of money over the life of the loan!

Low monthly payments
Currently, new homeowners pay less than $1,000 per month, depending on the cost of their individual property.

Low good faith deposit
Once an application is approved, the required $800 good faith deposit may be paid in installments. The homebuyer does not have any other out-of-pocket closing costs.

Attractive, well-constructed homes
Modern homes that are not only beautiful but also well-built

Brand new appliances
All Atlanta Habitat houses include a new stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and dishwasher.

Energy-efficient homes with low utility bills
Each Atlanta Habitat house is built using energy efficiency standards. This ensures that our houses conserve energy, which saves homeowners 35-40% on utility bills.

Handicapped accessible based on family’s needs
Attractive ramps allow handicap access to the home, and modifications can be made for individuals who have a disability.

There is a minimum requirement of 250 sweat equity hours. These hours must be completed within one year of a homebuyer moving in the home.  At a minimum, 100 of the 250 hours must be completed by the homeowner and members of the household.  Up to 150 hours may be completed by friends, family, and/or co-workers.

Atlanta Habitat homes are for first-time homebuyers who meet specific qualifications to ensure success.

Homebuyers are expected to:

• invest 250 sweat-equity hours in building his/her home and volunteering to build others or work at our headquarters, ReStore or outreach events
• make an $800 down payment
• lease the home up to one year, making timely payments that apply to the purchase price during the lease period
• attend at least 17 homeowner education classes
• attend 5 financial coaching sessions
• maintain the property
• attend a pre-closing meeting
• make monthly payments on their 30-year mortgage
• maintain mortgage ready income, credit, and debt-to-income ratios

We built our first single-family four-bedroom, two-story home in 2019. There are three factors in the two-story home option:

1. The household income must meet the requirements listed in our income guidelines.

2. The lot for two-story homes has to be relatively flat and located in a neighborhood that has existing two-story homes.

3. While, still considered affordable by Atlanta housing standards, our two-story homes are more expensive to build, and at this time, we do not offer a three-bedroom, two-story option.

Since 1983, Atlanta Habitat has built and renovated more than 1,500 homes primarily in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, impacting more than 6,000 family members.

Homes start at 1,100 SF and have three or four bedrooms with two bathrooms.