Home, Sweet Home

As I started to notice more and more people around me buying homes, I wondered how they were doing it. Some had family to help, but I didn’t. Nobody taught me about managing finances, or that I should build my credit score up.

When people at my work started buying homes I thought, you work where I work — how did you do it? That’s when I heard about the first-time homebuyer’s seminar offered through UW Credit Union. I wasn’t too familiar with the down payment assistance program, but I was motivated to apply because my rent kept continuously going up, by an outrageous amount.

Going through the list of potential people to work with through the homebuying process, I saw Rina’s name. I had met Rina years earlier when she helped with a fundraiser for my sister, who had breast cancer. We knew my sister was going to pass and we had no money to bury her. Rina was a great support at that time, so I knew I had to work with her again.

Rina was very, very kind and understanding. She just took her time with me and made me feel at ease. She answered all my questions. She was so wonderful; she gave me the courage to do this.

The process happened so quickly – maybe 30 days total. When Rina called me on a Monday to say I was qualified, I was like “Oh my goodness, this is amazing!”

I love the peace in my new home. I’m a big plant person, and I have huge windows in my living room where all my little, tiny plants sit on the ledge with my bigger plants nearby, basking in the morning sun.

I love my neighborhood, too. I actually lived in this same neighborhood before my sister got really ill and I moved in with her, taking care of her until she passed and being temporary guardian for her children. Being back in the same neighborhood is a full circle and it just makes me so happy because this is where I always wanted to be.

Being a first-generation homeowner, I didn’t have any experience with buying a home. I never knew this whole process would be as simple as it was. You always hear how stressful it is to buy a house and move, but I didn't find it to be that way at all.

Everything was so smooth, and I am so happy because my mortgage is way cheaper than what I was paying in rent for my apartment. Why didn't I do this before? I wish somebody could have talked to me and explained this was available because I would have done this a long time ago.

I totally appreciate the down payment assistance program. I’m ecstatic — it’s such a relief because owning my own home is a dream I didn't think I could ever reach. I just had no idea that my life could be much easier and that there's so many resources out there.

I’m telling as many people as I can. They shouldn't be intimidated or scared because UW Credit Union will walk you through it all. Rina answered all my questions over and over, and when I took the course, I took a bunch of notes and learned so much and started to understand. Anybody can do this.

I absolutely love everything about my new home. It's a good feeling when you can say you own something.

UW Credit Union supports programs like down payment assistance and first-time homebuyers seminars because we are built on a strong financial foundation and believe in investing in our communities.