Success Stories
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Success Stories *
Jayla
Buying your first house is a milestone moment you’ll never forget. This week’s Bright Spots report highlights a local teacher and the team of people who are helping bring her home.
“It really feels like I am dreaming right now,” Jayla said. “I am 24, so I am going to have my own house. It’s going to be mine. It is crazy. I just want to say you guys have no idea how Truly grateful I am for all of you, for this opportunity. I will invite everybody to my housewarming party!”
Katie
We are so happy for Katie, a teacher in a Title 1 elementary school in Tucson, who we were able to help purchase a home this fall. We have never met anybody so deserving and it was a privilege to work with her.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020 she was named Teacher of the Year at Desert Willow Elementary for not only nurturing her 17 in-person students, but an additional 50 via Zoom in the afternoon. And once that extended day was finished she took on “every extra paying role you can possibly pick up” so she would be able to move her two kids to a safe neighborhood. She told me when I first spoke with her: “We would love nothing more than to move into a house in a neighborhood where our kids can make friends and play in a backyard.” That’s not asking for much!
After a few strategy sessions to talk requirements and budgets we were ready to speak with a lender. Katie then found her dream home and we provided a down payment grant to bridge the gap. Then a few weeks ago she sent us the reveal video when she and her husband surprised the kids with their new home and it reminded us why we do this. “Is this our new house?!?!”
We love this picture so much. It’s the moment her daughter realized that she would have her own bedroom for the first time (no offense to her brother). 🥹
Nick
We are proud to have helped Nick in Pine Bluff become a first-time homeowner by providing a grant to cover the down payment.
He is both a Teacher of the Year recipient and a volunteer football coach, but it’s what he said about being a father figure that made us determined to help. In his words: "Growing up, I didn't have a fatherly connection, so I make it my business to not only be a coach on the field, but to also be there for my students in a way that educates and heals the whole child. I not only attend football games, but I show up for my students outside activities that's not connected to the school. Just seeing their smiles when they see me sitting in their piano recitals or me showing up at a kiddos fishing tournament. I do the things I wish had someone to do for me when I was growing up.”
Nick is an amazing person and the community is lucky to have him!
Alexis
Congratulations to Alexis in Alabama, a two-time "Teacher of the Month" winner and now first-time homeowner!
We are especially proud of our work with Alexis because we were able to help her save multiple times more money in fees and interest than what we contributed in grant funds. First was the institutional landlord who tried to charge $10,000 to end the lease early (not on our watch!) and then the lender who added $2,000 in extra closing costs and 3/8th of a point higher rate (so we shopped around to keep him honest).
Alexis, we wish you and your husband (and your dogs) the best of luck in your beautiful new home!
Jamaul
Meet Jamaul, a real life superhero. He’s a firefighter, police officer and mentor who runs a summer camp for kids in Newark. Now we can add “homeowner” to that list of titles thanks to a down payment grant from Famous Friends. Congrats Jamaul!
Krysten
School is out and Krysten is moving in! It is getting harder to make the math work for aspiring homeowners with home prices and interest rates where they are, so we are thankful to have had some help with this one.
After deciding between a USDA rural development loan and an FHA first-time homebuyer mortgage, we were able to work out a deal with the builder to secure a 5.25% rate (versus a 7.25% market rate) and also have them cover the closing costs. Those cost reductions along with a grant from Famous Friends were enough to put Krysten in a brand new home.
We are so happy that everything came together for the best third grade teacher in Huntsville!
Breonna
We are honored to have been able to help Breonna, one of the kindest people we have ever met, purchase a home with her husband and four children in Arkansas. Breonna is a teacher at a specialized preschool for children with developmental disabilities and also a missionary at her church who feeds the homeless and visits nursing homes every weekend. She told us “I would give my last dollar” to aid someone in need and then wondered aloud if maybe one time it could be her turn to receive a little help. It was such a beautiful moment that we agreed on the spot to make this dream a reality! Congratulations Breonna!
Sade
Meet Sade, a teacher, coach and now proud homeowner in Florence, Arizona! As a single mom she already has a lot on her plate but somehow still finds the time to run a free basketball camp for kids in the community. She is exactly the type of selfless person that we are here to help! ❤️