Citrus Heights housing and human services program coordinator Nicole Piva, left, and senior planner Alison Bermudez volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity project. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Twenty interested families took the first steps in learning how to qualify for first-time home ownership as the first construction phase of eight new single-family homes on Sayonara Drive by Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento (HFHGS) officially opened April 1.

“We’re excited to open the application process for the first phase of this project and to help you on the pathway become first-time homeowners,” said Rochelle Disney, Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento director of homeowner services, describing the project at a March 31 in-person community presentation at Citrus Heights City Hall. “If you’re selected, you’ll be a part of a vibrant, new community on Sayonara Drive and some of you may be next door neighbors one day.”

First phase construction is planned to start in June or July, Disney said.

A question-and-answer session followed, describing how to obtain an application and what financial documents would be necessary for consideration. Applicants have no later than 4 p.m. May 23 to submit their complete applications.

Disney said that Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento is accepting applications for the first 10 homes in its Citrus Heights Sayonara Drive development and one additional home to be built in Folsom.

“We’re encouraging those interested to see HabitatGreaterSac.org/Apply and then complete a homeownership prequalification questionnaire,” Disney said.

The partnership between the City of Citrus Heights and Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento helps provide stable housing for nearly 120 low-income households in Sacramento and Yolo County, including children.

 

Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento director of homeowner services Rochelle Disney holds a question-and-answer session describing how to obtain an application and what financial documents would be necessary for consideration. 

Construction will be done in three stages of eight to 10 units per stage, with each stage taking approximately a year to complete, according to Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento. The total project development cost is estimated at $8.5 million.

Disney said that successful applicants who meet specific Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento program criteria might qualify for a 30-year, zero-percent equivalent mortgage.

Prospective homeowners must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents and be able to demonstrate that they can afford a monthly mortgage payment and the ability to save for closing costs. Potential homebuyers must have good credit (no recent bankruptcies, collections, liens or judgments) and demonstrate a need for decent and affordable housing.

Selected applicants must also complete 500 total hours of sweat equity toward the physical completion of their new home.

“We realize that many of our applicants are working and we’re flexible in how the 500 volunteer hours can be completed,” Disney said.

 

The Sayonara Housing project provides a first-time homebuyer opportunity for qualified low-income families earning between 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). 

The project provides a first-time homebuyer opportunity for qualified low-income families earning between 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Each unit provides an affordable 30-year, zero-percent interest equivalent fixed-rate mortgage to qualifying homebuyers, according to Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento.

The online prequalification questionnaire isn’t intended to represent a final determination, nor is passing the prequalification a guarantee that applicants will be accepted into the Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento program, Disney said. For more information, visit habitatgreatersac.org/homeownership-prequalification.

According to project plans summarized by chief city planner Alison Bermudez, there will be a total of two two-bedroom/one-bathroom units (971 square feet), 12 three-bedroom/two-bathroom units (1,214 square feet), 10 four-bedroom/two-bathroom units (1,407 square feet) and two five-bedroom/two-bathroom units (1,523 square feet).

The new all-electric two-, three- and four-bedroom duet style homes feature drought-tolerant landscaping, energy- efficient heating systems, low-flow plumbing systems, security alarm systems, solar battery storage and rooftop solar panels.

 

Construction will be done in three stages of eight to 10 units per stage, with each stage taking approximately a year to complete, according to Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento.

Applications for consideration must be received no later than 4 p.m. May 23 at either Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento offices in Sacramento at 819 North 10th St. or in the Citrus Heights Community Room at 6360 Fountain Square Drive in Citrus Heights.

Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento has scheduled four first-come, first-serve application drop-off session dates at those locations until its May 23 deadline.

Construction of the new units on Sayonara Drive by Habitat for Humanity on 12 vacant city-owned lots in Citrus Heights, using CalHome funding, will meet the city’s obligation to replace blighted rental units that were demolished between 2008 and 2010.

An in-person orientation meeting regarding the Sayonara Drive Habitat for Humanity single family housing project was moved on April 7 from the Citrus Heights City Council Chambers to the Citrus Heights Event Center in Fountain Square due to interest in applying for the project.

Interested applicants who want to learn about Habitat’s new Citrus Heights homes or how to apply can do so online at HabitatGreaterSac.org/Apply.

For specific information about the Citrus Heights project, visit habitatgreatersac.org/about-citrus-heights/.