Jesse and Alex fell in love after meeting at a football stadium. What began as a chance encounter in those community stands has grown into building a life together, in their own home near where their story began.
Jesse owns his own business: a barbershop in Fresno, California. Together, the couple balances their responsibilities and finances as they work to make ends meet. And things can be tight at times. Especially with their wedding scheduled for March 1, 2024, they wished to start out their married life on solid footing in a home of their own, but they had limited savings and weren’t quite sure how or where to start. They are first-time and first-generation homeowners as well, so they didn’t have immediate family members they could ask, and there was no generational wealth they could lean on for support.
The first thing they did was sign up for homebuyer education classes offered by a local nonprofit focused on equity through real estate. Sarah Cervantes, mortgage loan officer from Self-Help Federal Credit Union, was on site to explain some of the programs Self-Help offers first-time homebuyers. That’s how the couple first learned about Self-Help. With rents ever increasing, purchasing a home seemed to make the most financial sense to the couple. They scheduled an appointment to meet with Sarah to explore if it might be possible, and if they could do so in a way that wouldn’t put too much stress on their monthly budget.
The couple had identified a new construction home that seemed just perfect. But they worried a down payment would be required that they couldn’t afford. Sarah worked with them to qualify them for our Equity Boost program to help them purchase a new construction home. Equity Boost reduced the down payment amount, and it also reduced the interest rate on the mortgage loan.
For the Self-Help team in Fresno and beyond, Alex and Jesse's success represents exactly why they do the work they do. It’s gratifying to see community members like Alex and Jesse start building wealth as new homeowners.
The couple settled into their new home just in time for their wedding (and for Jesse to carry Alex over the threshold!). Their families are so excited for them to begin their married life on solid footing. What’s more, they are a stone’s throw from where they first met. On a clear day, they can see the stadium in the distance from their front steps. Their story stands as a testament to what becomes possible when financial barriers are removed.