Every first-time home buyer’s story is unique. Each experience in our lives teaches the right way and the wrong way to do things. Sophia and Delroy have achieved their goal of homeownership, and through their experience each one of you will have the opportunity to learn and hopefully be motivated to start or finish your own first-time home buyer journey.
When asked why she and Delroy bought a house, Sophia responded that a desire for their children to be able to enjoy their childhood motivated the decision. Sophia and Delroy have been married for seven and a half years and have two daughters--Endonesia, 15, and Zaire, 6. “Where we were renting I did not want the kids to go outside,” Delroy said. “That is what motivated me to own a home so they could have somewhere to play.”
And thus began the year and a half journey with a purpose and a vision for their kids. As with many goals, there was more than one reason for this pursuit. “We knew one of our investments should be a home. When you are renting there is no return. We wanted to see something appreciate, not depreciate,” Sophia said.
Their key to success was using the resources that were available to them as first-time buyers. “My boss saw an article on the IDA program and gave it to me,” Sophia said. The IDA, or Individual Development Account, is a savings and matching program that helped them come up with the some of their down payment. They did their own research and found that they were also able to use HouseHartford since they were planning to buy their home in Hartford. Sophia and Delroy purchased a home on Ridgefield Street in the North End of Harford. Despite the stigma attached to the neighborhood, Sophia considered it appropriate for a professional family to purchase a home in the North End—with its park, big, sturdy houses, and so much character. “[When I was] growing up, this was the who’s who area and I always loved it here.”
HouseHartford is a mortgage program that offers home buyers down payment and closing cost assistance. It is available to persons or families who wish to purchase in Hartford but would not be able to acquire their homes without such assistance. “Some people think this program might be a barrier because they make sure that you have an inspection and get things repaired, but I feel it is a benefit to get things exposed,” Sophia said. “Sometimes we don’t see things because of our excitement in buying a home.”
Delroy agreed with his wife and added, “Do different research, find out the history of the house, and the most important thing is to get the home inspection. We heard so many stories in the homeownership education classes about people who did not get an inspection. Once you buy the house, whatever problems there are belong to you.”
The IDA program requires that you complete an approved homeownership education course. “We had a vision to buy a home, and these programs helped us to prepare financially for our piece of the pie,” Sophia reported. They both loved going to the classes and encourage other future home buyers to inform themselves as well. “Don’t buy without getting educated,” Sophia said. “They teach you to know [not only] how to buy a home but also how to deal with your finances so someone can’t come and take our home.”
Sophia recalled their biggest obstacle--when Delroy lost his job. But that didn’t deter them. They kept taking the classes and kept their eyes on their dream. “My husband and I encouraged each other. We wanted a house. It was a real dream for us.”
So with their 30-year fixed mortgage in place and the keys in hand, they walked into their dream home. Sophia noted, “We just walked through the house and just praised God and gave him the glory. We were in awe that we [had] purchased a home.”
And the journey continues in their third year of homeownership. On April 5, 2006, Sophia and Delroy received an award at the “Thank You” Celebration, sponsored by Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez and The Neighborhoods of Hartford, Inc. The event was held in Hartford and honored residents within the Hartford Rising Star Blocks and Hartford Pride Blocks who exhibited neighborhood leadership in the program and/or rehabilitated their homes. Ridgefield Street is a Pride Block. Pride Blocks are residential areas that encompass one street or a portion of a street. This program is a part of the homeownership initiative of Mayor Perez, which is designed to promote taking care of your property and encouraging your neighbors to do the same to improve the community’s image. “Sophia and Delroy . . . are great examples of leadership within Hartford’s urban revitalization. They are proud and excited about their investment in the Ridgefield Street Pride Block. Their message is ‘come, invest, and stay,’ said Jacqueline Dickens, Outreach Coordinator for the Ridgefield Street Pride Block.
What is the best part of homeownership for them? “To know that it is yours. It is a great feeling to know that we are connected to the neighborhood. To be able to embellish the yard and to work with my husband to fix it. You can do whatever you want to make it your own,” Sophia said. Then she added with a smile, “To see my family in the back with the flowers and to know we have something that belongs to us.”