Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
Building homes, community, and hope.

Homebuyer Program Overview

homebuyer program overview

Hi neighbor! If you are looking for more information on how to purchase a home through Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s Homebuyer Program, you are in the right place. Every day we partner with hardworking families and individuals throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to build comfortable, high-quality homes with affordable mortgages! If you meet Pensacola Habitat’s Homebuyer Program’s qualifications and application criteria, you’re only a few steps away from saying “goodbye” to rapidly rising rent and “hello” to a new future in home you own.

view our homes

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity creates, preserves, and promotes homeownership because we believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. An affordable, stable home impacts every part of an individual’s life—health, education, economic opportunity, and generational wealth.

Currently, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity offers newly constructed single-family homes, rehabilitated homes, community land trust homes, and brand new market rate homes.

the truth about our program + homes

We’d like to clear up some of the most common misconceptions about our homes so that you can feel confident and informed as you explore the possibility of purchasing a home through our program and begin your path to homeownership.

  • Some people may believe that Pensacola Habitat for Humanity gives homes away for free. In truth, purchasing a home from Pensacola Habitat means committing to an affordable mortgage with reasonable monthly mortgage payments. Additionally, homeowners contribute "sweat equity" hours by participating in the construction of their own home or others’ in the program, ensuring they are actively involved throughout the process. This approach emphasizes earning a home through dedication and effort, fostering a deep sense of understanding and pride in homeownership.

  • It's normal to have questions about quality and durability of any new home build, but rest assured, homes built by Pensacola Habitat for Humanity have evolved significantly over the past two decades, incorporating advanced building practices and thoughtful designs to better serve the needs of homeowners and their communities. Each home meets or surpasses local building codes and features energy-efficient materials, dependable appliances, and thoughtful design. We work closely with future homeowners to ensure the home meets the unique needs of their family, including physical accessibility and functionality. These homes are thoughtfully designed to integrate seamlessly into their neighborhoods while keeping long-term costs affordable and sustainable. You can trust that your home built by Pensacola Habitat is not only built for today but crafted to stand the test of time.

  • Each Habitat for Humanity affiliate operates a bit differently. At Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, homebuyers have the opportunity to select the lots and home layouts that best suit their needs and desires, based on qualifications. After submitting an initial application, our Programs Team will present the options the buyer qualifies for, with the ultimate decision left to the buyer. These options may include a newly built home in a preferred neighborhood, a rehabilitated home from our inventory, or a community land trust home or lot, depending on availability within Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

  • Many people mistakenly believe that Habitat for Humanity only serves those in the most difficult financial situations. In reality, Pensacola Habitat assists individuals and families across a variety of income levels, especially in a time when homeownership feels unattainable for many. By offering affordable mortgages, practical guidance, and an opportunity for meaningful investment in their own homes, Pensacola Habitat helps many families and individuals across a wide-range of financial situations achieve stable, long-term homeownership.

is homeownership through pensacola habitat for humanity right for you?

Our homeownership program partners with working individuals and families to buy their own homes with affordable mortgages. Our future homeowners are involved in every step of the home buying process – volunteering with Habitat, building relationships with our staff, and attending classes to become successful homeowners.

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity approves future homeowners for our Homebuyer Program through three sets of criteria:

how our program works

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s Homebuyer Program begins with an online application. This includes creating an account through our Programs Portal, submitting required documentation, and completing the application.

After completing the application, the Pensacola Habitat Programs Team will process the application, which is approved or denied based on specific requirements and qualifications for the program.

If your application does not meet the program’s requirements, you will be notified with a description of why your application was denied. There is no limit to the number of times you can apply, so be sure to read exactly why your application was denied and begin working to correct the issues prior to re-applying to better your chances of being approved in the future.

If your application is approved, you begin the program to become a homeowner! During your time as a homebuyer, you will be required to perform 100 hours of Sweat Equity and complete the workshop series on homeownership-readiness with other homebuyers in the program. While completing the Sweat Equity Hours and workshop series, buyers will often-times be given options to choose from regarding their home lot, home layout and finishings like cabinets, flooring, colors and more based on availability. Before closing, the buyer will perform a walk-through of their finished home to ensure it meets expectations. Throughout the program, from application to handing over the keys, our Programs Team will guide you every step of the way and are always available to answer any questions, making the home buying process less intimidating and more manageable.