Become a Homeowner

We are proud to be expanding our opportunities for families to partner with Broome County Habitat for Humanity. Our program has a long, successful history in our community. View our history of homes​!

Family Selection & Partnership Program

BCHFH builds new and rehabs existing homes with the mission of providing support and guidance to families as they pursue their goal of homeownership.  We strive to provide our partner families with safe, energy efficient, updated homes.  Families who partner with BCHFH are required to enroll in First Time Home Buyer education instruction and counseling with us. 

This curriculum includes Financial Literacy and Budgeting, Mortgage Financing, Foreclosure Prevention and the Purchase Process including home inspections, appraisals and how to determine the best mortgage partner for the purchase.  It is a vital element of our program requirements in order to assure successful homeownership for our partner families.

Families wishing to participate in the Habitat program should submit a pre-selection form.  For a printable form (click here​). Submit the printable form to our office at 103 Adams Street, Endicott, NY 13760.  For an online fillable form (click here).  

Other program requirements may include the following:

1. Mortgage Prequalification:  Mortgage prequalification is the first step to homeownership.  Each prospective partner family must qualify for a mortgage with a qualified lender.  Call the office at 607-239-4783 for more information for partner lenders.
2. Steady Income: which is necessary to meet your mortgage payments as well as provide for utilities (heat, electric, water, refuse, etc.), homeownership insurance, taxes, and necessary maintenance.  We aim to serve families whose annual gross income maximum is 60%-90% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Broome/Tioga counties.
3. Housing:

• You are currently living in sub-standard housing (e.g., leaking roof, overcrowding, unsafe neighborhood inadequate heat or sanitary conditions, structural problems). 

                                   - OR -

• Financial need for housing: It can also mean that you are paying more than 30% of your gross income on rent (cost-burdened).  In other words, if more than 30% of your gross household income is going to keeping a roof over your head and thus depriving your family of adequate                 nutrition, clothing, and education, you might qualify even if your current housing conditions are not considered substandard.

1. Sweat equity: You must be willing to invest 200-400 hours of labor in Habitat projects (depending on family size).  This constitutes your “sweat equity” in your home. 50% of the hours must be completed by the applicant (s) on the construction site. The remaining 50% can be completed by family and friends as well as the applicant(s) and can take on many forms including additional construction hours, volunteering in our Habitat office, and other volunteer activities offered by Broome/Tioga Habitat. 
2. Credit: Qualified applicants must meet minimum credit score requirements that enables them to obtain financing from a mortgage lender.
3. Ownership:  You cannot have owned a home within three (3) years of applying for our program. 

For current program requirements and information contact our office at 607-239-4783.
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