SEARSPORT, Maine — Wanted: family for three bedroom, two bath house. Must be willing to pay interest-free mortgage based on assessed value of property.
Waldo County Habitat for Humanity, the 3-year-old local affiliate of the international nonprofit, is building its second home, and through unusual circumstances, has not yet found the family that will occupy it.
The organization’s president, Andrea Walker, said typically an applicant is selected before construction begins, but the group is still in the process of trying to match an applicant to the house. Anyone interested should complete a preapplication form on the organization’s web site at habitatofwaldocounty.org.
There are income guidelines, Walker explained. A family of four must have an annual income of at least $16,250 and not more than $43,350.
The successful applicant also must complete 200 hours of what Habitat for Humanity calls “sweat equity.” The work, often split among several family members, does not have to be highly skilled, but the investment of energy by the new owner is a vital component of the process.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will visit the house at 84 Old County Road at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, to mark World Habitat Day.
This week, Jenness Robbins, a volunteer who serves on the board of directors, was overseeing work on the house. His company, Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, donated the pine boards used to sheath the 26-by-36-foot, two-story, Cape Cod-style house. The paid lead carpenter, Richard Ames, was cutting off rafter tails as part of a trim detail, while volunteers Keenan Mitchell and Kyle Skinner were installing roof shingles.
Businesses including Viking Lumber, EBS, Mathews Brothers and others donated materials, while companies such as GAC, a chemical manufacturer with a plant in Searsport, sent employees to work on the house as their contribution.
Walker said Habitat’s first house was built in Belfast on land near the former Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad line donated by the Unity Foundation. Local contractor and board member Larry Jones volunteered as construction supervisor. A family moved into that house in December 2010.
The Searsport house is the first of three to be built on five acres donated by the town.
“We fundraise for all the materials and the cost of building the house,” Walker explained, with donated lumber, windows and other construction material a critical factor in keeping costs down. She estimated that the Searsport house will cost $60,000 to $80,000 to build.
But that won’t be the sale price.
Habitat affiliates typically sell at fair-market value or at the municipally assessed value; the latter is often lower than the former. In the case of the Searsport house, assessed value will be used, Walker said. A noninterest mortgage is offered, with the length varying from 15 years to 45 years, depending on the owner’s finances.
To qualify, the applicant must have a decent, if not stellar, credit rating and have a steady income. Those now living in poor housing are given priority.
“They’re hard-working families that don’t make quite enough money to qualify for a loan,” Walker said of applicants. The owner of the Belfast house is a single mother with two children. “She always paid her rent, but she was never going to qualify for a [bank] mortgage.”
The owner “can’t turn around and sell the house immediately,” Walker explained, without turning any profit back to the organization. After about 15 years, the owner can sell and pocket the gain in value.
The Habitat group is pleased to build near service-center towns like Belfast and Searsport, but its goal is to build a house in each of the county’s 26 towns, she said.
Those interested in volunteering — and expertise is not required, Walker stressed — can fill out a registration form at the website or call 557-6071.
What? Building a house BEFORE you have an occupant? Part of the appeal for habitat for humanity is to have the family invest time into seeing the home be built from the ground up with the volunteers. Take away the community involvement with the homeowner during the construction and you get low income housing….. What if the person who really needs a house right now is a couple with 1 child, but a house this large is too much for them to handle? They freeze and be homeless? What a waste of community support and materials. PEOPLE, listen, this program should cater specifically to people who are in need, not just build homes that may stay vacant and fall into disrepair. Or are you going to rent it out until its occupied? That sounds even shadier than what’s already taken place. With all the people who are in need these days….. Wow
I like the idea of this organization building homes for those in need, but here is my concern, and please if I am off base someone correct me; the home is built from mostly donated materials, the labor is donated, the land is donated. The recipient then must contribute their 200hrs of sweat equity; around $1500 at minimum wage. After all of this donatating and contributing the organization then sells the house to the qualified recipient at the either the tax valuation or fair mkt value. Who pockets the sizable profit?
Money from the deal is put back in to building more homes. Building on spec seems like an unusual thing to do, but surely someone will be able to make use of the home.
It makes sense that they can’t find people right now. Those that could sign up are either out of work of working many part time jobs just to make ends meet and probably don’t know about it.
Then, there’s the whole republican sales pitch, lately, about social programs that makes getting help or admitting you could use some help, seem like a dirty word, like you’re a terrible person because you never had a decent chance to make a good living, never mind having a silver spoon in your mouth like most of the GOP.
This program is a very good thing for everyone. If you are financially responsible, hard working and need help, sign up and get involved. You’ll be glad you did.