Taking a Leap of Faith

Erika Scott was tired of paying rent and wanted a nice place to raise her family. She always wanted to be a homeowner but felt as though she wasn’t at the age where she would become one. “I just want to say that in my lifetime, I have owned a home,” says Scott. She gathered the courage and took the first step by finding a realtor, then it was time to find a home. A referral connected Scott to HOPE. Scott was initially nervous about the loan process, but HOPE staff and her realtor assured her that they would be there every step of the way. “The HOPE staff was warm and hospitable; they answered all my questions,” says Scott. She was approved for HOPE’s Affordable Mortgage Program, which makes homeownership accessible by helping borrowers navigate traditional underwriting requirements. “I did this for my daughter. I told her that if you work hard and keep the faith, it will come right to you. God will bless you with it,” says Scott. She closed on her first home in June of 2022.