Buy a home with Memphis Habitat.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis partners with homebuyers during the entire homebuying process, offering guidance, education and support to prepare families for successful and lasting homeownership. This collaboration strengthens financial skills, creates community connections, and enables families to secure stable, affordable homes and build intergenerational wealth.
Qualify to buy a Habitat home.
Similar to a traditional mortgage, applicants must meet certain qualifications to participate in Memphis Habitat’s program, including having a need for Habitat for Humanity’s homebuying opportunity. To assess this need, Memphis Habitat evaluates four different living situations:
- Substandard Conditions (structural problems, mold, pests, etc.)
- Overcrowding (too many people in one bedroom, using non-bedrooms as bedrooms)
- Temporary housing (living with friends, relatives, coworkers, etc.)
- Cost-Burden (spending more than 30% of income on rent)
Additional Qualifications Include:
- Either never owned a home or haven't owned a home in the past 3 years.
- Have not had a home in foreclosure in the past 4 years.
- Unable to qualify for a conventional loan due to income level.
- Be able to prove the ability to afford the monthly payment and household expenses.
- Have fair or passable credit and no judgments or liens.
- Have not declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the past 12 months or Chapter 7 in the past 2 years.
- Must have re-established credit from any previously declared bankruptcies.
Habitat’s Income Guidelines
Families must have a stable, verifiable income that can support a monthly mortgage payment and related expenses. They must also fall within the income guidelines listed below. Memphis Habitat serves households earning less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) for Shelby County. Meeting these income guidelines does not guarantee eligibility.
Family Size | Gross Year Income |
|---|---|
1 | $33,500 - $51,050 |
2 | $33,500 - $58,350 |
3 | $33,500 - $65,650 |
4 | $35,000 - $72,900 |
5 | $36,000 - $78,750 |
6 | $36,000 - $84,600 |
7 | $36,000 - $90,400 |
8 | $36,000 - $96,250 |
*Guidelines as of April 2025. Income guidelines may be updated annually per the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
Here’s how we’re partnering with our homebuyers:
- Complete partnership hours by volunteering at Habitat build sites, the Habitat ReStore or other local nonprofit organizations. Memphis Habitat requires 250 partnership hours for single heads of household and 300 hours for joint heads of household. Homebuyer Education accounts for 100 of those hours. A maximum of 45 partnership hours can be contributed by family and friends.
- Contribute at least $2,000 toward closing costs (can be paid in increments).
- Build a personal emergency fund.
- Complete the multi-week Habitat Homebuyer Education Course.
- Maintain or decrease your “debt-to-income” ratio while in the Habitat program.
Have questions about our homebuying program?
