Natalie Wilson knows first-hand that bouncing back from divorce can be difficult.
With four kids and a small business to worry about, Wilson has had to make some tough decisions in the years since her marriage ended.
“I went through a pretty ugly divorce and lost our house,” she said. “It was too big for me, and I couldn’t afford it, so I sold it then rented for five years.”
But sometimes those tough decisions can set the stage for the next chapter. After deciding that she was done with renting, she began taking steps toward homeownership.
“My friend is a Realtor here in Morgantown, so we started the process,” Wilson said. She also reached out to Kim Barnum at Intercoastal Mortgage/MVB Bank to talk about her loan options.
“It was a lot easier to go through the West Virginia Housing Development Fund than anything else,” Wilson said.
Although Wilson owned a home during her marriage, she qualified for the Fund’s Homeownership Program. This program primarily targets first-time home buyers but has a few exceptions. West Virginians who have not held an ownership interest in a primary residence in the last three years may still qualify for a low-interest rate mortgage loan available through the Homeownership Program as well as down payment and closing cost assistance through our Low Down Home Loan if they meet program requirements. Because Wilson had rented for five years and met other criteria, she was eligible for the program.
“The Homeownership Program is designed to help West Virginians achieve their dreams of owning a home, and there are a few different ways we can do that,” said Jon Rogers, Senior Division Manager of Single-Family Lending for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. “We know that life happens sometimes and circumstances like Natalie’s are not uncommon. We’re proud to play a role in helping people like Natalie get back on their feet and get into homes they can afford while building equity and staying rooted in the communities they’ve come to love.”
Wilson said she knew she didn’t want a single-family home that would require maintenance. Instead, she opted for a 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom townhome in an area she feels is safe for her two younger kids who still live at home, with the added benefit of a Homeowners Association that takes care of all outside maintenance.
Wilson has nothing but positive things to say about her experience with the West Virginia Housing Development Fund and our lending partners. She encourages others who are thinking about taking the next step toward homeownership to contact the Fund and see what options are available.
“I would recommend anybody who is a first-time home buyer to look at the Fund,” she said. “For me, as a single mom and business owner, this was the only option I would even consider. This was my biggest accomplishment at 52 years old, other than having my children, that I’ve done on my own. This means a lot to my pride to say that I have bought something that is just mine.
“Give it a shot,” she added. “Don’t think you can’t do it. If I as a single mom with four kids can get a mortgage and a place to live, I would tell anyone to give it a try.”