“Home Sweet Home” – We’ve all heard that saying, and probably used it many times.  We know too that our home is where our hearts are, whether that is a rented room or apartment, or a rented house, or a house we own.  Most of us, but not all, want to be able to call our home truly ours – we have paid the down payment and the monthly mortgage payments and it’s ours, not the landlord’s.  But maybe that doesn’t seem possible right now for many reasons.

Taking the step toward home ownership requires planning and hard work.  There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit…” (Proverbs 21:5).  Home ownership is an investment when home prices increase over time. It can be a wise use of the money God provides us through our diligent plans and work to invest in a home. 

If you want to become a homeowner, there are many helps available to help you navigate the process.  Your first step is to determine if you are ready for home ownership.  You’ll need to consider your current income, how much you have in savings already, and what debts you already have to know what kind of mortgage you could qualify for.  Once you feel you’re ready, find a good realtor to help you through the process and to be on your side during the search and during the purchase negotiations.  You can read more about the process from FreddieMac, a mortgage lender.  Locally, Total Action for Progress (TAP) offers a first time home buyers’ workshop and even down payment assistance.  The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) also offers assistance and counseling to low and moderate income first time home buyers.  You can also take this online class about home ownership through Virginia Housing to help you learn the necessary steps to take. Finally, you can see the housing service providers linked in Link2Hope here.

This may all seem a bit scary, but remember you are not the first person to go through the process of buying a home – and taking that first step is a bit overwhelming to us all!   Reach out to your advocate or a close friend for encouragement and accountability as you work towards this goal. We’re on your side, and we are praying for you! 

This may all seem a bit scary, but remember you are not the first person to go through the process of buying a home – and taking that first step is a bit overwhelming to us all!