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Mrs. Foster's story
Our program participants all have different stories, backgrounds and needs.
We offer homeownership education and counseling, but it goes a lot deeper than disseminating information. While some people are ready to buy and can take the information and run, others need technical support and encouragement to get through the tangle of decisions that they now face.
This was the case for Mrs. Foster who had rented the home she was living in for almost 13 years. Last year Mrs. Foster was informed by the owner that she was ready to sell as she was getting on in years and
just couldn't keep the property up after her husbands recent death. Mrs. Foster did not want to move; she was caring for her elderly mother as well as a developmentally disabled grandson and did not want to
see their lives disrupted.
So many family memories filled that home and the reality was that in today's market, and with her limited income, Mrs. Foster would've had an extremely difficult time finding another, similarly affordable, home to rent.
Because of their long time relationship, the owner wanted to see the Foster family own the home and did everything possible to make that happen.
AHC Homebuyer Educator, Geraldine Melendez, began to write up a contract but found that it did not meet the minimum housing code and had no Certificate of Occupancy. After working with home inspectors and local agencies the problems were rectified. It took some hard work but Mrs. Foster was able to purchase her home of thirteen years -making it possible for her mother to spend her last days at home and keeping her grandson from having to be placed in a group home.
Mrs. Foster spoke to us afterward and said, I'd never bought a home. I didn't know what to do or what to ask.
The first time I went to a bank, the loan officer asked me if I had any credit cards. I told her no, I don't believe in them - I only buy things that I can afford and I do that with cash. She actually said to me then there is no use in me talking to you. I thought it was over at that point but Gigi told me not to give up and gave me some other names of loan officers I should talk to. That's when I met Christina at Clyde, she and Gigi were my angels. It took some work but it all worked out just fine. I hope you know how much I appreciate your help- If not for you and the Housing Classes, I would've taken that first no and left and I wouldn't be a home owner today.
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