The Homebuyer Education Program is for people interested in future homeownership, but potentially unprepared for a mortgage loan at this time. Our Homebuyer Education Program builds knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for a successful home loan registration, homebuyer process, and homeownership including hands-on experience.

Space is limited in this program. If space is unavailable, applicants will be referred to other community providers.

Every participant completes a series of classes to learn about homeownership, money management, debt management, credit and underwriting, the homebuying process, home maintenance and repair, and more.

Our Homebuyer Education Program offers additional support through monthly one-on-one financial mentoring. Financial Mentoring is designed to ensure participants understand money management principles and are applying them correctly within their own spending plan.

Habitat works with individuals within the household income limits established by USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan Program.

You may access the application by selecting the “Print the Program Registration Form” or by calling us at (865)982-8717. Please be prepared to provide your name, phone number and mailing address.

The Loan Packaging Program is for eligible buyers interested in purchasing a home on the open market. As loan packagers, we work closely with eligible applicants and USDA Rural Development to successfully complete the 502 Direct Loan application process. Habitat will work with you to determine loan eligibility, collect and correctly complete required USDA paperwork, package and submit your application to USDA Rural Development, and act as a go between for you with USDA. You are not required to work with a certified packager to apply for the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan.

Habitat does charge a loan packaging fee of no more than $1,750. This fee is only due if USDA Rural Development approves you for a loan and you close on the loan. This means if you do not purchase a home with the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct loan, then you do not pay this fee. Additionally, we will assist you in finding means to cover this fee including the possibility of financing the fee in your loan.

As a Certified Loan Packager, Blount County Habitat for Humanity works with interested homebuyers to determine their likely eligibility for the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan Program and submit loan application packages. This eligibility determination includes calculating applicant and household income, assessing the applicant’s ability and willingness to meet their debt obligations, determining repayment ability, and determining if the applicant meets the program’s other borrower eligibility requirements.

Applicant requirements include but are not limited to:

• Have an adjusted income at or below the income limit for the area where you wish to buy a house. USDA Income Limits Map
• Be without decent, safe and sanitary housing
• Agree the property will be your primary residence
• Have the legal capacity to incur a loan obligation
• Meet citizenship or eligible noncitizen requirements
• Not be suspended or debarred from participation in federal programs

The application process includes a written application and supporting documents (including tax returns, verifications of income, creditworthiness, employment, rent, etc.), and payment of a $25 credit report fee. The application allows us to assess your eligibility and complete the required USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan paperwork.

You may access the application by selecting the “Print the Program Application” or by calling us at (865)982-8717. Please be prepared to provide your name, phone number and mailing address.

USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan Program offers affordable mortgage loans with 33-year or 38-year terms, fixed interest rates, and payment assistance if/when needed.

The loan term is determined by the applicant’s income and loan amount.

Borrowers utilizing payment assistance may be required to repay all or a portion of the assistance received over the life of the loan when the title to the property transfers or the borrower is no longer living in the home.

Property requirements include but are not limited to:

• Located in an USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Loan eligible area
• Be modest in size- generally 2,000 square feet or less
• Market value not in excess of the applicable area loan limit.
• No in-ground swimming pool
• Not designed for income producing activities

BCHfH’s homebuilder program has 3 primary criteria:

Need for Housing – Need for housing is considered in four ways: rental cost burden, condition of current housing, homelessness and overcrowding. Blount County Habitat for Humanity Home builder Selection Committee works with the Programs Manager to determine if a qualifying need for housing exists.

Ability to Repay an Affordable Mortgage – Ability to repay an affordable mortgage is determined by applicant’s credit report, debt owed, household income, employment verification, rent verification, etc.

Willingness to Partner

1. Willingness to partner very simply means a buyer completes the requirements of the program. All buyers must earn sweat equity. This is hours awarded for the time spent in homebuyer education, financial management and mentoring, work at the ReStore, work on construction and work with a credit counselor if needed.
2. Additionally all buyers must save a buyer contribution equal to 1% of their contract purchase price.  This pays for the first year of homeowner’s insurance and escrow account deposit.

Additional Qualifications
All applicants must:

1. Reside in Blount County for the last 12 months
2. Be a legal resident of the United States
3. Household income at or below 80% area median income determined by HUD (Chart Here)
4. No ownership interest in a home for the last 3 years
5. No member of a household may be required by any jurisdiction to register as a sex offender
6. No household member 18 years old or older may be convicted of certain drug or violent criminal offenses (subject to review)

Blount County Habitat for Humanity will consider applications from homebuyers with household income at or below 80% of the area median income for the family size as determined by HUD. HUD updates this information annually.

1. 1. Chart Here
   2. BCHfH uses grant funds when available to make the home more affordable to the buyer. These grant programs may have additional income requirements that must be met by the buyer. Certain properties or funds may be restricted based on these requirements.

The application process includes a written application and supporting documents (like tax returns, verifications of income, creditworthiness, employment, rent, etc.), underwriting (or the process used to determine if the buyer can afford a Habitat home and qualify for a mortgage) and a home visit with the Selection Committee to determine the need for housing and Board of Director approval.  Due to COVID, Habitat may modify the application process to ensure the safety of volunteers, applicants, and staff.

All buyers are referred to as Partners on purpose. We must work together in partnership to realize Habitat’s mission of decent housing for all. This partnership begins at the time of application.

Print Application

Return complete applications in person at the Habitat main office- 1017 Hampshire Drive, Maryville, TN

Regular office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm. Drop box submission is available at the front door of the main office.

We will not process incomplete applications.

Applications are available:

1. Print from blounthabitat.org
2. Request by email melissa@blounthabitat.org
3. Pick-up at the ReStore– 548 N. Foothills Plaza Dr., 865-379-9299
4. By mail

Application Assistance by appointment. Call 865-233-9110 to schedule.

Complete as much of the application as you can before the meeting.

Buyers spend time in class, managing money, working at the ReStore, helping at special events, building homes, and volunteering in the community. This time is called Sweat Equity. There is no dollar value or refund for sweat equity if a homeowner is deselected or withdraws from the program.

BCHfH requires Sweat Equity for many reasons:

1. Communities and Partnerships work best when everyone plays a part.
2. Builds community and creates connections between the buyer, Habitat staff, volunteers and the community.
3. Neighborhood pride: Helping to construct homes gives a feeling of accomplishment and ownership.
4. It gives the buyers an opportunity to meet their neighbors before they close.
5. Build skills & knowledge to help deal with maintenance and repair issues.

Accommodations are made for buyers requiring special consideration.

All buyers apply for select mortgage loans with Habitat’s assistance. Habitat partners utilize third party mortgage loans through USDA Rural Development or FAHE JustChoice Lending.  Homes are purchased with the affordable mortgage loan each buyer is eventually approved for. Habitat cannot sell a home to anyone who does not qualify for an affordable home loan.

BCHfH uses a combination of affordable 3^rd party mortgages, grants and Habitat subordinate loans to make each home as affordable as possible. BCHfH defines affordable as 21-25% of the buyer’s gross monthly income.

BCHfH builds the best home we can while keeping the buyer’s needs in mind. We are not a custom builder but are committed to safe, decent and affordable homes. Sometimes the home design is influenced by characteristics of the lot and the community where it is located.

In order to qualify for the Habitat Home Repair Program you must submit an application establishing:

• Need for Home repair in order to make your home safe and healthy for occupancy
• A willingness to partner with Habitat through Sweat Equity and Program Compliance
• Ability to pay by qualifying for one of the available financial products
• Additional qualifications:
  • Home located in Blount County
  • Legal resident of the United States
  • Household income up to 60% or 80% area median income (based or funding)
  • Proof of homeownership
  • The home is your primary residence
  • Pass a criminal background check, including a sex-offender registry check

Program Requirements Include:

8 hours of sweat equity required. Please note special accommodation will be made for persons with disabilities.

Repair Financing: Habitat utilizes loans, grants and donated services to make home repairs affordable.  We use the following financial products:

• USDA 504 Loan
• USDA 504 Grant
• THDA Emergency Repair Grant
• FHLB Carol M. Peterson Housing Fund
• Pinnacle FAHE Loan Fund

Click here to download the home repair flyer for more information about these products.