Sweat equity is the work that you do to build your home instead of paying someone else to do it. This substanitally reduces the cost of your home. To purchase in this program, it costs you time and effort and is considered a “work down payment” -instead of a cash down payment.

Not at all! Each group goes through pre-construction classes and then builds under the direction of a professional construction supervisor.

From the time you formally apply to the program, it can take approximately 2-6 weeks to receive eligibility from the USDA. The length of the construction process depends on what time of the year your group starts, the weather, how many homes there are, and several other factors. Most groups average about 10-12 months.

By participating in this sweat equity program you qualify for a 502 Direct Self-Help loan from USDA Rural Development. For more information about how this loan works, we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our Housing Advisors.

Absolutely! Like any home loan, you will have to pay back whatever you still owe on your mortgage balance. If you have been receiving payment subsidy, you may have to pay some of it back from the profit you earn on the sale of your home. Ask your housing advisor more about how this works at your appointment.

We are currently accepting applications for subdivisions in Smithfield and Hyrum. We are working on a new location and hope to start building in Perry beginning the end of 2024.

Yes – the schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Someone from your household or someone representing your household must be present during these scheduled group shifts. You or others in your group may put in extra hours outside of these times, at the approval of your supervisor.

No! You do not pay your mortgage until your home is completed and you have moved in.

No – we will gather a group of about 7-10 eligible households who work together to build each other’s homes. You will start and finish together, and no one moves in until everyone’s homes are completed.

There are certain things that are subcontracted out (plumbing, electricity, etc.), but you will directly participate in 65% of the construction of your home.

Each household is required to contribute at least 35 hours/week on the construction site. These hours can be put in by anyone in your household or someone representing you, at least 16 years of age or older.

Yes. We have over 25 house plans to choose from and multiple lots within each subdivision. You cannot have the same house plan as someone next door or directly across the street. Builders get to choose their lot and house plan in the order that they came in to apply for the program. You can visit our House Plan Gallery to see all floor plans.