June is National Homeownership Month, which celebrates the benefits of owning a home and acknowledges the need to make homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. In honor of National Homeownership Month, we are sharing the story of our
borrowers, Jesse and Alex.
Jesse and Alejandra (Alex) fell in love after meeting at a football stadium. When they decided to get married, they wanted to start married life in a new home, so they got to work by attending homebuyer education classes. They came to our Fresno,
CA, branch and worked with Self-Help Mortgage Loan Officer Sarah Cervantes to discuss their options. Jesse and Alex identified a new construction home they thought would be perfect, but they were worried about being able to afford the down payment.
Sarah was able to get them qualified for Equity Boost, making the down payment and interest rate more affordable, and the couple settled into their new home just in time for their wedding! On a clear day, they can even see the stadium where they met
from their new home.
Congratulations, Jesse and Alex!
Equity Boost
Many of our borrowers, like Jesse and Alex, are able to take advantage of our Equity Boost loans. These loans are available to first-generation homebuyers and homebuyers with modest incomes. They offer 0% down payment, the ability to finance closing
costs into the loan, $2,000 toward a rainy-day fund, and lower mortgage rates. Learn more about Equity Boost or discover all of our affordable home lending options.
Homebuying: Where to Start
At Self-Help, we believe in ownership for all, which is why we’re here to take the mystery out of homebuying. If you’re interested in buying a home, it’s important to start by understanding your credit and how to improve your score.
We offer free FICO® credit reviews to help you gain
insight into your credit and what the biggest impacts on your score are. If needed, we also offer Credit Builder Loans to
help provide you with an opportunity to boost your credit.
Once you understand your credit, follow our guide on how the homebuying process works.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s important that you have financial coaches, loan officers, and realtors on your side who are willing to help you through each step.
Widening the Path to Homeownership
Learn more about Self-Help's impact, how we’re widening the path to homeownership, how we’re preserving affordable housing, and more in our 2024 Annual Report. Happy National Homeownership Month!