About a year ago I began working with a single young mother of three boys to help her find a home. Her credit was not horrible, but she had no money to put down and very low income. I could go on and on about this person telling you about her devotion to her children and church and how she attends school in the evenings in addition to working to try to make a better life for her and her family. However, the point of this post is to make sure all of you out there don't miss out on an opportunity to truly help someone in need.
Cindy (ficticious name) and I looked at homes on a weekly basis for months. It is not easy to find a decent house and keep the payment between $600 and $700 a month---even in one of the most affordable markets in the country. We looked at all kinds of run down properties and homes with special problems such as being located in a flood plain or manufactured homes made to look like stick built. Keep in mind that Cindy had no extra money and needed to find something that would be habitable from day one. No extra funds for the roof, or carpet, or appliances.
I was contacted by the local branch of Habitat for Humanity to help them locate lots on which to build their homes. Up to that point, I really didn't know much about this organization other than some famous people were picking up hammers and helping to build some of these homes. I learned that they could put someone in a home with nothing down and their payments could be as low as $400 per month--taxes and insurance included! I encouraged Cindy to contact them to see if she would be eligible for one of their homes.
She called me just a few minutes ago to tell me that she had gotten through their process and had been chosen for one of the homes to be built in 2009! I got chills and a lump in my throat all at the same time. Cindy will be required to help build her house and she has also volunteered to help work on homes for others as time allows.
The KW office I am affiliated with just announced this past week that we have volunteered to help fund and build a Habitat home in the fall. We were each asked to donate $20---about the cost of a pizza, and a few hours one day in the fall.
I urge each of you to keep this possibility in mind for buyers who contact you and who seem hopeless. Don't turn people away until you have given them this option. I also urge you to check out the possibility of sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity Home. As we all know, what goes around comes around and we need to take care of each other!
What a terrific opportunity for you and your buyer. We regularly donate to our local Habitat ReStore. I'll see about picking a hammer as well.
I love it when something turns out that great for a client. Most agents would not do what you did.I too will go to any lengths to find my clients a home no matter what the price. The person looking for an 80,000.00 home is just as important as a person looking for a million dollar home, maybe even more so. Unfortunately a lot of agents will only work with the million dollar home buyer. I admire what you did. Keep up the good work.
Habitat for Humanity is an incredible organization. I have clients that are in the process of moving into one of their homes this very week; I believe. Three cheers for your office--more of our offices should jump on board--I think I'll bring it up at our next meeting! Anyone else?
Thanks!
I agree, this is a great organization . .the best thing that Jimmy Carter founded for all of us
Habitat for Humanity is a excellent opportunity for the community and professionals. I used to volunteer every year in Houston for local chapters like my college, high school, etc.
Its a great cause, chance to network, chance to volunteer, and a chance to learn about home construction hands on. Dont miss an opportunity to be part of something great.