Rather than exchanging diamonds and pearls to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary, Wanda and Carver decided to purchase a new home. “We were not looking at retirement communities. We have too much energy for that and some of our friends were buying homes. It was the right path for us.”
Best friends for longer than their marriage, Wanda and Carver delight in their daily conversations. When deciding what type of home to buy, they talked about more living space, both inside and outside. They also agreed that owning a home would be a wise investment.
Wanda and Carver sitting in their living room.
It was not always easy and took more than a year to purchase their new home, from beginning to end. Friends introduced Wanda and Carver to Financial Empowerment Education and Counseling program. With rent expense on the rise and a desire to purchase right way, they took their friends’ advice and enrolled in the education series.
“The education and one-on-one support were helpful. We would leave class and strategize how to apply what we learned that day to our current circumstance. The instructor was very personable and took time to answer our questions.” For Wanda and Carver, each class brought more knowledge to the homebuying process – how to read their credit reports, how saving even small amounts can make a big difference, and the significance of paying down debt.
When it came time to look for a home, Wanda and Carver used a realtor recommended by DreamKey Partners. With $15,000 in down payment assistance from the NeighborhoodLIFT program and $750 in out-of-pocket expenses, they purchased a ranch style, three-bedroom, two-bath home on a one-acre lot.
With support from their family, Wanda and Carver moved into their home. Since then, they have settled into a comfortable routine of coffee and conversation, exercising and meal planning. They enjoy cooking together, entertaining friends and fellowship at a local church.
“We are excited and thankful for our home today and years to come. We would recommend to others – no matter their ages – to make informed decisions when buying a home. It is important to understand what it takes and the things you need to do to be in the best position as a homeowner now and in the future.”