Constitution Condos are an Affordable Ownership Opportunity

These condominiums have affordability covenants, and maximum income limits apply. To qualify for purchasing these properties, a minimum family size of three for the upper unit and one for the lower unit as well as a median family income (MFI) of 30-80% are required.

Steps To Buy A Home at Constitution Avenue

Watch Orientation Video & Review Eligibility Requirements

Watch this helpful video that walks you through all the eligibility requirements. You can also review the qualifications for the homes at Constitution Avenue.

Open House

We will be hosting a series of Open Houses for the Constitution Condominiums on the following days:

     Thursday, 11/13 – 2pm – 6pm

     Monday, 11/17 – 2pm – 6pm

     Sunday, 11/23 – 10am – 12pm 

This is still an active construction site so no one under 16 is allowed to enter the homes. We will have lenders on site if you’d like to apply for a pre-approval for the units while at the open house! If you are interested, please bring to the open house: ID, Last Two Paystubs, Last Two Years W2, Last Two Years Federal Taxes, Last Month Bank Statements.

Complete Habitat DC-NOVA Application

Habitat DC-NOVA Homeowner Application:

Questions?

Please email Eli Echavarria, Family Services Coordinator, at eli.echavarria@habitatdcnova.org and reference Constitution Avenue.

Constitution Avenue Purchaser Qualifications

Purchasers must meet all of the following:

• First-time homebuyer (having not owned real estate in the last 3 years)
• Minimum household size of three for Upper Unit and one for Lower Unit
• No household member on the sex offender registry
• Primary residency or at least one applicant with full-time employment in DC, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fairfax County, or Arlington County for the last 12 months or more
• Total household income falls between 30-80% of Median Family Income (MFI) as defined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2025 limit was $154,700.

And meet at least one of the following need-based requirements:

• Currently living in an unsafe surrounding environment 
• Residing in temporary housing 
• Living in subsidized housing or participating in a housing voucher program
• Overcrowding
• Rent burden (paying more than 30% of monthly income on rent) 
• Heating, electrical, plumbing, or structural deficiencies

Ability to Pay:

Purchasers must meet all of the following:

• If wages or salary are primary sources of income, a 2-year work history that includes a minimum of 6 months with the current employer and any gaps in employment must be explained
• If self-employed, must have 2 years of documented, stable income with the last 6 months in the same line of work
• Income can reasonably be expected to continue for 3 years or more
• Current credit reports free of unpaid collection, judgment, and liens
• Current credit reports must not show bankruptcy in the last 3 years or foreclosures in the last 7 years
• Tri-Merge middle credit score of 620+
• Quality for non-subprime or approved alternative third-party financing
• Total debt to income ration, including new housing cost must be less than 43% of your monthly income
• Show at least $2000 in current bank statements, no account overdrafts in the last two months, and bank statements or proof of assets not to exceed 10% of the fair market value

Willingness to Partner:

Douglass CLT and Habitat DC-NOVA want to ensure that people who are normally priced out of homeownership have an opportunity to build some equity while keeping the home affordable for the next buyer. When (and if!) homeowners sell their house, the new price will be calculated so that they gain financially, but the home is still affordable to someone at a similar income level.

All program participants must complete 200-300 hours of “sweat equity,” or volunteer work. This may include working on the construction site, attending homeownership and financial literacy classes, and/or volunteering in the office or at special events.