Success Stories - Portland Housing Center

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Here’s just a small sample of the many Portland Housing Center customer success stories. Come into our office today, and start writing yours!

Read about people just like you who are becoming homeowners with our help

Enrique and his family credit Portland Housing Center’s assistance with their ability to buy a home. Now they recommend Portland Housing Center to everyone.

Enrique Ditches DIY Homeownership for a Little Help from PHC

Enrique lived with his wife, children and grandchildren in an apartment before they found out about the Portland Housing Center. As their rent continued to rise, it became clear that they could get more for their money if they owned a home, rather than continuing to rent. At one point, the family tried to achieve homeownership on their own, but couldn’t afford to make the leap without a little help. After hearing about the Portland Housing Center from a friend, they decided to sign up and start the process again. Step by step their HomeBuying Specialist Humberto helped them get prepared for homeownership, providing valuable information on the process, reassurance, and motivation. Portland Housing Center’s Financial Fitness and HomeBuying101 classes helped to change the family’s relationship with money and prepared them for the purchase process.

With preparation and financial resources from the Portland Housing Center, Enrique’s family was finally able to realize their dream. Utilizing both the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) loan, a 20% second mortgage, and Portland Housing Center’s Individual Development Account Program provided the extra boost they needed to afford a home. Now they enjoy the freedom and privacy that comes with having their own space. They’ve enjoyed making the space their own, painting and working in the garden. They also feel more connected to their community, with great access to schools, stores, and public transit. They love their new home in Beaverton.

Are you ready to stop trying to DIY homeownership?

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Financial Fitness Helps Muhammad’s Family Get on the Same Page Financially

Muhammad, a teacher, and his family spent around a year working with PHC to prepare for homeownership. They appreciated all the services they received, but especially loved the Financial Fitness class. It was so helpful in getting them to talk about money in their own marriage, kickstarting their savings and work on their credit, they think all married couples should take it whether or not they plan to purchase.

They also were able to utilize the IDA program and great Lenders and Realtors on the Portland Housing Center partner list who helped make the process smooth. Despite a competitive market and touring 50 plus homes, their patience paid off and they found a great home in a neighborhood they loved. They love enjoying family dinners at their own dining room table, sharing in the bounty of their neighbors’ garden, and volunteering at their children’s school.

Ready to start your homeownership journey?

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Homeownership Gives Molly the Stability to Stay in Portland

Without the assistance of the Portland Housing Center, Molly, who works in public health, may have never been a homeowner – and likely wouldn’t have remained a Portlander. With skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable homes on the market, Molly was sure she would need to relocate, feeling priced out of her city. Portland Housing Center’s services helped Molly get financially prepared for homeownership. A grant from the Individual Development Account program and a MAP loan, a mortgage for 20% of the purchase price, helped make homeownership an affordable reality and allowed Molly to stay in the City of Portland.

Molly started working toward homeownership in 2013 with the Portland Housing Center. Her HomeBuying Specialist provided valuable support and referrals to other resources, like Innovative Changes, who helped Molly build her credit. Portland Housing Center’s classes were valuable in learning what to expect in the process and in improving her financial management. The Financial Fitness class helped instill the importance of budgeting, a tool she still uses to be prepared for home maintenance and other expenses.

Homeownership has given Molly greater stability and time to spend caring for others in her family and community. Now Molly spends less time worrying about her living situation and more time connecting with her neighbors, gardening, cooking, and relaxing in her own space.

Are you ready for a space of your own? Let Portland Housing Center help you get there. Register now

The MAP Loan Helps Taylor and Ashley Clear Their Final Hurdle to Homeownership

Portland Housing Center’s MAP program was instrumental in helping Taylor and Ashley purchase their first home. When they learned about Portland Housing Center they had already spent some time getting their finances in order, but they hadn’t been able to save up for down payment and closing costs. Through their lender, they learned about the Portland Housing Center and the MAP program, a second loan for 20% of a home’s purchase price. Within two months of beginning their home search they were moving into their new home in Clackamas County. Portland Housing Center was able to provide the MAP loan, as well as a grant to help them clear their savings hurdle and purchase their new home. In addition to the financial assistance, Taylor and Stephanie appreciated the Homebuying101 class where they learned what to expect in the process and how to prepare a budget for homeownership. As homeowners they’ve continued to utilize the tools from the class.

Now Taylor and Ashley love where they live, with great neighbors and close to family. They had a great experience working with PHC and found the staff to be informative, patient, and kind. The down payment assistance from Portland Housing Center helped them to get into a home sooner, where they are already building home equity and wealth.

Need a little help getting your savings together for a new home? Portland Housing Center may be able to help! Learn more and get started today. Register now

Persistence and the IDA Help Heather Purchase a Home

Heather heard about the Portland Housing Center from a friend and registered while she was still going to school for nursing. After two years of work and a little help from the IDA program she was able to purchase a new home in Portland. Heather appreciated the flexibility of PHC’s online classes as she juggled school and being a single parent. The IDA Program was also a big motivator that helped her stay engaged in the process and keep working toward her goal.
Once she was ready, Heather’s house hunt lasted about four months. With the competitive market she had to offer over asking to get her home. She sees this home as an investment in her future and loves having a permanent home with the possibility of renting out space in the future. Since moving she’s regularly attended her HOA meetings and done some volunteer work in her community. She also has referred lots of friends to Portland Housing Center!

Are you ready to invest in your future? Get started today. Register now

“Other lenders pressured me and weren’t giving me good rates.”

Kerry was renting from a family member and working two jobs when she stumbled up on the Portland Housing Center’s website during a search for homebuying information. She thought the class looked interesting and decided to sign up. Kerry met several times with her HomeBuying Specialist Ira, who helped her set up a plan to pay down some debt and set her savings goals. Kerry also decided to use Portland Housing Center’s Loan Officer, Heidi for her mortgage loan. She felt more comfortable with Heidi, “Other lenders pressured me and weren’t giving me good rates.”

Kerry credits Portland Housing Center with helping her know what to expect in the process, and saving her time during the home search by helping her connect with trusted professionals like her Loan Officer. Now Kerry enjoys investing in herself with her new home and making it her own.

Start investing in your own home today by getting started with the Portland Housing Center.

Charmaine feels empowered knowing that the home is theirs and they are no longer subject to the whim of a landlord

An Eviction Jumpstarts Charmaine’s Homeownership Journey

Charmaine and her family received an eviction notice on her birthday. With 40 days to get out, they took to the nextdoor app for advice, where some neighbors recommended a trip to Portland Housing Center. They were able to meet with a HomeBuying Specialist and received a loan pre-approval in rapid succession. After meeting with their Homebuying Specialist and taking the HomeBuying101 class they felt confident in the steps they had been taking.

Barely a month after registering they were moving into their new home. Charmaine feels empowered knowing that the home is theirs and they are no longer subject to the whim of a landlord. They love their neighbors and feel more connected than in their previous home. Without the right team of professionals who were practiced at working with first time homebuyers Charmaine isn’t sure that homeownership would have been a reality for them.

Ready to feel the empowerment that comes with owning your own home? Register today!

Get access to the tools and guidance you need to make it happen.

Register now

Tell Your Story

Are you a Portland Housing Center homeowner wanting to share your success story with potential homebuyers?
Email your story to us, along with a completed publicity release (English, Spanish).

We look forward to telling your story!

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