Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties, founded in 1986 and based in Renton, builds for-sale affordable homes in one of the country's costliest markets, including condos, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units. It uses a flexible partner model instead of fixed sweat-equity hours. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
Because the local market is so expensive, the affiliate builds for-sale ownership housing as condominiums, duplexes, multiplexes, and detached accessory dwelling units, with homes ranging from studios to four bedrooms. Buyers obtain an affordable mortgage through state-approved lenders, and if a buyer cannot finance the full amount, Habitat provides financing for the rest.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | 80 percent or less of area median income, with some homes set at 60 or 50 percent. For a four-person household the maximum is about $116,650 in King County and $85,900 in Kittitas County. |
| Residency | Live or work in the county where you apply. |
| Ownership | Not having owned a home in the last three years; the home must be your primary residence. |
| Credit | No minimum credit score to apply, but a history of on-time payments, no active disputes, and any bankruptcy discharged at least four years ago. |
| Savings and debt | At least 1 percent of the purchase price saved, typically $4,000 to $6,000, with other monthly debt no more than 13 percent of gross income. |
| Sweat equity | A flexible willingness-to-partner model rather than a fixed number of hours. |
Buyers are typically in the program four to six months from selection to move-in.
Applications are tied to a specific available home rather than an annual window. You review the program, choose an available home to apply for, and submit the online application on that home's page with your documents, then have an applicant meeting with staff before final approval and financing.
If no home is currently available, you can join the mailing list. The team can be reached at [email protected] or (206) 866-7615.
The affiliate runs critical and minor home repairs and aging-in-place work for income-qualified homeowners at or below 80 percent of area median income, with separate lines for King and Kittitas counties. Its four ReStores, in Bellevue, Southcenter, Auburn, and Ellensburg, sell donated home goods and building materials, take drop-off donations, and offer free pickup.
Spanning urban King County and rural Kittitas County is itself distinctive, with a dedicated Ellensburg store and a separate Kittitas repair line.
Volunteers must be 16 or older, and those under 18 must be accompanied throughout a shift by an adult 21 or older. You sign up through the volunteer hub and browse available shifts.
The affiliate reports serving more than 2,000 families in King County through construction and preservation. It holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100 percent score. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 91-1342397.
For-sale condos, duplexes, and accessory dwellings with gap financing.
Critical and minor repairs and aging-in-place for income-qualified owners.
Four stores: Bellevue, Southcenter, Auburn, and Ellensburg.
Serving both urban King and rural Kittitas counties.
Budgeting, maintenance, and readiness classes.
Construction and ReStore shifts across the region.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (habitatskc.org and buyhabitat.org) homeownership, buyer-selection, and repair pages, plus the ReStore site; Charity Navigator (EIN 91-1342397). The affiliate does not publish a fixed sweat-equity hour count. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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