Habitat sets schedule for Columbia Falls homes

Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley will build 11 new houses in Columbia Falls within the next two years and has released guidelines for prospective homeowners.

 Habitat Flathead will break ground this month on a three-bedroom home on 3rd Avenue. Soon thereafter, they will break ground on the corner of 6th Avenue West and 8th Street West where they will build one four-bedroom, one three-bedroom, and two two-bedroom townhouses. They plan to break ground on the six homes on the Railroad Street property in August.

Habitat Flathead is currently taking applications for the four townhouses on 6th Avenue and 8th Street. The deadline for these applications is April 15. In order to qualify for Habitat homeownership, applicants must be within 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income, be willing to do 275 hours of “sweat equity” to co-build their homes and demonstrate a need for better housing. Applicants can access the application at habitatflathead.org/homeownership and send queries to homeapplications@habitatflathead.org.

The minimum/maximum income levels are as follows:

One Person $18,550/$49,500

Two People $21,200/$56,600

Three People $22,700/$63,650

Four People $31,200/$70,700

Five People $36,580/$76,400

Six People $41,960/$82,050

Seven People $47,340/$87,700

Habitat Flathead’s executive director Mary Beth Morand estimates the cost per home will be under $400,000 depending on the number of bedrooms. In addition to lower priced homes, Habitat Flathead homeowners are able to access 30 year, 2% fixed-rate mortgages through the Montana Board of Housing. Habitat Flathead will begin taking applications for the six homes on the Railroad Street property in May.