Application

We submitted our application for the Mutual Self-Help Program this week. We are anxious to hear back regarding our application status. I am confident we meet all of the criteria and hope everything falls into place.

We have been told it takes an average of about 2-3 weeks to receive approval, but it sounds like the applications are a little backed up right now and we may have to wait for more like 6 weeks. It does sound like we are the 6th of at least 7 applications, so hopefully that means if all applications get approved, we would be able to begin building right away.

In the meantime, we need to complete the First Time Home Buyer's education class, which I think is about 6 hours long. I anticipate it will be a little dry, but probably helpful.

We drove around the neighborhood of interest and saw the completed and nearly completed homes that are already part of the program. We were pleased to see that the neighborhoods were very nice, the homes were beautiful, and I would have never guessed it was a neighborhood full of homes built by a program like this. Even better is the fact that all of the homes have unique color and rock combinations and the house plans are diverse. I was concerned it would be obvious these homes were self-made and that they might look exactly the same. I hate those kinds of neighborhoods.

I look forward to hearing back (hopefully soon) and hope we get approved. Now we just have to wait.

Mutual Self Help Program

We came across this program the other day and were immediately interested. The US Department of Agriculture facilitates the Mutual Self-Help program, which allows families to participate in the building of their own home. Six to 10 families work together, under the direction of a contractor, to build approximately 65% of their own homes. Through sweat equity, and a subsidized interest rate, families are able to buy homes that are normally unaffordable.

Here are a few more details I have gathered:

1 Homes must be in a designated rural area. This program is through the rural housing development which tries to support and promote rural housing.

2) Families must meet income guidelines.

3) Families must commit a total of 35 hours of labor per week.

4) No one is allowed to move into their home until all homes are completed.

5) More than 200 homes have been built through the Mutual Self-Help program in Utah County.

6) Once approved, families have the opportunity to choose the lot, house plan, and colors they want--all from the designated choices.

7)In Utah County, it is estimated to take around 7-10 months to complete the homes.

8) Applicants must have good credit, meet the income qualifications, be available to contribute 35 hours per week, and meet the debt-to-income guidelines.


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