JARED & ANNA WITH BRENDA HANSON

Young couple puts down roots in their hometown; REALTOR® and lender use Down Payment Resource to locate eligible homes and assistance funds.

Jared and Anna are savers. Jared was careful to ensure the young couple put away money early on with the goal to eventually own a home of their own. But, after taking advantage of a unique opportunity to run a Bible Camp in North Dakota, they depleted much of their savings while helping support the financial needs of the camp. Without the nest egg they once had, Jared and Anna wondered if their dream of owning a home would be postponed. They desired to move back to their hometown in the Minneapolis suburbs, but with little down payment savings and today's tight credit standards, they knew it could be difficult. During their transition back to Minnesota, they moved in with family while they looked for the right place.

The young couple enlisted their Realtor, Brenda, to help. Brenda understood the couple's goals and situation and she began searching for homes in their target area using NorthStarMLS. Listings that displayed a Down Payment Resource icon alerted her that the home was eligible for one or more down payment assistance programs. After clicking on the icon, Brenda was able to quickly view details about the programs and forward the information directly to the lender working with the Jared and Anna. Together, Brenda and the lender discussed options so there were no financing surprises or qualifying issues for their client.

Watch Jared and Anna share their home ownership story.

Brenda says Down Payment Resource is simple to use and it helps save her time. In the past, she would go to four or more websites to determine program requirements and available programs. It was even harder for her to provide this service when a client was looking in a new community or part of town that was less familiar to her. She says Down Payment Resource is helping to enhance her current business and provide more value to her clients. She views financing as the biggest challenge for clients today, but with assistance programs, Down Payment Resource, and a knowledgeable lender, you can find valuable solutions.

Brenda found Jared and Anna a home close to the town center and helped them secure $5,000 for their down payment. The couple was thrilled. The assistance funds made a huge difference in the type of home and location that they could buy, helping them purchase a long-term home, complete with a pond and park nearby. The financing process was seamless and the couple brought less of their own money to the closing table. Jared and Anna say they would've never known where to start to find assistance funds; they credit their Realtor and lender for helping educate them and find a program that could work for their situation.

Jared, now a financial planner, and Anna, a professional blogger, moved in the day before Thanksgiving during a snow storm. They are now living close to their family again, enjoying new careers, and expecting their first child. Soon, they will create their own family memories in their new home. And, Brenda loves knowing that she helped Jared and Anna achieve their dream.