Making the dream of homeownership a reality in Lake and McHenry Counties.
Thank you for your interest in Lake-McHenry Habitat’s Homeownership Program! We believe that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home—our homeownership program helps make this a reality for more people in our community.
Questions?
Scroll down to the FAQ section to get answers to some of the most common questions about enrolling in our homeownership program. If you still have questions, reach out to us at [email protected].
When applications are open, your completed application will be evaluated based on three main areas:
Need: Current housing is substandard or inadequate (overcrowded, unsafe, or unaffordable), accessibility is needed, or family income is insufficient to afford a conventional mortgage.
Ability to Pay: Stable, and consistent employment history, satisfactory credit, legal residency, and able to make affordable mortgage payments. Additionally, household income must meet the HUD income guidelines for household size (50-80% of the area median income).
Willingness to Partner: Homebuyers agree to contribute partnership hours with Habitat team members and our volunteers building Habitat homes and completing financial education classes, as well as spending time at our ReStores.
Applications are currently CLOSED, fill out the following interest form to be updated when they open again:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In order to qualify for the Habitat homeownership program, your household income must be at or below 80% of Area Medium Income (AMI) as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The 2025 Income Guidelines are:
| Family Size | Maximum Household Income (80% of AMI) |
| 1 | $67,200 |
| 2 | $76,800 |
| 3 | $86,400 |
| 4 | $95,920 |
| 5 | $103,600 |
| 6 | $111,280 |
| 7 | $118,960 |
| 8 | $126,640 |
Households invest hours working on their future home or the homes of other Habitat homebuyers, and also at our ReStore locations. Homebuyers work in partnership with Habitat’s trained site staff and work side-by-side with other volunteers.
No. Habitat requires that you live in your home. You cannot rent out the home or move out and let others live there instead.
As long as the residence serves as your primary residence, you may also run a business out of your home.
Absolutely. We encourage you to reapply if your circumstances have changed.
We want to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to email our Homeowner Services Department with any further questions at: [email protected]
Thank you for your interest in partnering with us!
