About Homeownership
The Habitat Homeownership Program
Decent, affordable housing plays a key role in a family’s education, health, wealth and well-being. However, not every household has the same opportunities to succeed. Habitat gives people a helping hand as they work hard to realize their dream of homeownership.
Application Info
Our annual application round for the Homeownership program will be open October 1-31, 2026! Application packets will be available at the Habitat office September 28 through October 30. Application packets will be available to download from September 25 through October 30.
***Completed application forms cannot be accepted until October 1. The deadline to submit the application and all required documentation is Saturday, October 31 at 6 p.m.***
Whether you’re a first-time applicant or a past applicant, we encourage all applicants to follow these steps to prepare and get informed:
- Attend an in-person information meeting on Friday, September 25 at 11 a.m. at the Downtown Siouxland Library, Meeting Room A, 200 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls
OR
Watch a pre-recorded online information meeting (coming soon!) - Review the “Are You Ready for Homeownership” video on this page along with the Homeownership program selection criteria and other content listed below.
- Find your past two years’ tax records or request transcripts from the IRS.
- Hear what Dalonda, one of our newest homeowners, has to say about her Habitat experience.
- Consider volunteering with Habitat to see what it’s like to work with our construction team and learn new skills! No experience is necessary, and volunteer opportunities are available year-round.
Basic Qualifications
Residency Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status by October 31 (valid green card).
Eligibility Applicants must be living or working within the Greater Sioux Falls area (Minnehaha, Lincoln or Turner County) for the past 12 months (since 11/1 of last year).
Meet Guidelines Applicants must meet all income, credit and debt guidelines.
Availability Applicants must have availability to complete construction sweat equity and homebuyer education.
Selection Criteria
Income
From initial application to loan closing, applicant(s) must maintain an annual gross income that meets or exceeds the minimum income requirement for the applicant’s household size.
Credit Score
Applicant(s) with established credit must have a minimum score of 580. For applicant(s) with no credit or invisible credit, they must provide at least three sources of verifiable 12-month payment history. This can include rent, utilities and other payments you make monthly.
Debt-to-Income
Monthly debt obligations (total of minimum monthly payments) cannot be more than 15% of the applicant’s gross monthly income.
For student loan debt in deferment or forbearance, 0.5% of the loan balance will be counted toward monthly debt. Example: $50,000 loan balance = $250 monthly debt payment.
Derogatory Debt
The applicant’s outstanding debt in collections, judgments or county aid liens cannot exceed $3,000 total, and all derogatory debt must be paid in full before home purchase.
Savings
The applicant(s) must be able and willing to save at least $2,500 to cover closing costs.
Bankruptcy
The applicant(s) must have a minimum of 2 years since bankruptcy discharge, with good payment history since bankruptcy discharge.
Communication
Applicant(s) must be willing to notify Habitat of any changes to the household size or any changes to employment, income or debt that occur during the housing and loan application processes.
Sweat Equity
Applicant(s) must be willing to work alongside the Habitat team to earn 200-250 hours of sweat equity before becoming eligible to purchase a Habitat home. Household members who are 14 and older can help earn hours. Friends and people outside of your household can volunteer and donate a limited number of hours to help you achieve your goal. Reasonable accommodations or modifications for ADA are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Education
Applicant(s) must be willing to attend required homebuyer education classes.
Home Acceptance
Applicant(s) must be willing to accept the neighborhood and lot assignment that is offered to them by Habitat. The budget, floor plan, building materials and style of the home are determined by Habitat. Reasonable accommodations or modifications for ADA are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Responsibility
Throughout the loan term, applicant(s) must maintain their financial stability and make all required monthly mortgage payments. After purchasing the home, Habitat homeowners are responsible for all home maintenance and repairs.
Income
The applicant’s income and household’s income must fall within Habitat’s current income guidelines listed below.
Housing Need
There must be a housing need. For example, the current housing is unaffordable, subsidized, inadequate, unsafe, crowded or temporary, or the applicants cannot qualify for an adequate mortgage loan through a financial institution.
Income Guidelines
2026 Income Guidelines for Homeownership ProgramFor households larger than 8 people, contact Habitat for income limits.
| Household Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Income for Applicants | 33,250 | 38,000 | 42,750 | 47,500 | 51,300 | 55,100 | 58,900 | 62,700 |
| Maximum Income for Household | 58,200 | 66,500 | 74,800 | 83,100 | 89,750 | 96,400 | 103,050 | 109,700 |
Home Locations
We are currently building single-family homes in Granite Valley in partnership with CTE Academy, Harrisburg High School, and Southeast Technical College. Construction in this neighborhood will continue through 2028-2029.
Emerson offers a twin home lot where Habitat will build one twin home in 2026-27. The exact design and size of this twin home is still being determined, but each side will have two to four finished bedrooms.
We will be building homes in the Granite Valley and Emerson neighborhoods in Sioux Falls for the 2026-2027 construction season. Additional openings in other neighborhoods may become available if other properties are acquired. We are continually looking for affordable land and potential rehab homes to purchase, so we can serve more families within our geographical service area of Minnehaha, Lincoln and Turner counties.
Benefits of Habitat Homeownership
In addition to our housing affordability, we equip homeowners for success with training and support throughout the entire partnership.
- Own your home
- Energy efficient
- New appliances
- Low closing costs
- Affordable house payment
- Buyer education and training
Need help evaluating your income, credit or debt?
The calculator tools below can calculate your income and determine if your monthly debt exceeds 15% of your monthly income.
You can request a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company. To order your free credit report, visit annualcreditreport.com or call 1 (877) 322-8228. For more information, watch the “Checking Your Credit Report” video.
If you have unpaid judgments or county aid liens, they will not show up on your credit report, but Habitat still includes the balance of judgments and county aid liens in your derogatory debt calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
View our list of documents to collect for the application process.
Our Habitat affiliate holds an annual application opportunity that is open for one month. We anticipate the next application opportunity to be open October 2026.
Application forms are available for a limited time during our open application season. We anticipate our next application opportunity to be open October 2026 and will release options for obtaining an application closer to that time.
View our FAQ guides on household size and applicants and other household members.
Use our missing tax record guide to help you request copies from the IRS.
Habitat is the builder, the seller and the lender for the real estate transaction. The homes are built or rehabilitated with a combination of skilled labor and volunteer labor, under the supervision of Habitat staff. All homes are sold for current appraised value. Habitat cannot reduce the sales price, but loan types and/or loan terms can be adjusted to achieve affordability for the buyer(s).
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls serves Minnehaha, Lincoln and Turner counties. Each construction season is unique, as we can only build where we own land. Lot assignments are made solely by Habitat, based on the available inventory and secured funding. Homes are designed to meet the construction standards set by Habitat International and local building codes. In order to keep homes affordable to build and to purchase, construction options are limited. There is no guarantee of a particular home location, style or size. Habitat purchases all the building materials, and no upgrades are allowed. Reasonable modifications or accommodations for special circumstances are handled on a case-by-case basis. Habitat is not a custom builder, which means we do not design homes based on the preferences or budget of the homebuyer partner. Habitat matches you to a home that meets your current needs.
If Habitat is not the right fit for you, or you do not meet our general eligibility criteria, check out our other community resources list. There are many resources and programs available within the Greater Sioux Falls area to help you find your way into affordable housing. Our short list is not exhaustive, but it provides some next steps and options for you to consider.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa, our homeowner services coordinator at apply@siouxfallshabitat.org or (605) 274-6290.
Meet the Homeowners
Our homeowners each have a unique story. They come from different backgrounds, upbringings and cultures. Yet they are united in their common dream of homeownership, and Habitat is proud to help them make that dream a reality.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls is an Equal Opportunity housing agency. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for our programs without regard to race, color, religion, national orientation, sex, disability and familial status.