Every family has unique circumstances that drive their home buying search. In this market where homes are getting multiple offers, facing bidding wars, and selling well over the asking price, how does one go about purchasing an affordable first-time home that supports their family’s special needs?
Rebecca’s story spotlights the creative approach that her family took to meet the educational needs of their oldest daughter while also bridging the affordability gap of purchasing their first home.
Rebecca and her husband started their home search two years ago. They had a young daughter and a baby on the way. They lived in a 2 bedroom townhouse, and hoped they could purchase a single-family home to accommodate their growing family.
They had a busy life: Rebecca was pregnant and working the day shift while her husband worked at night. This schedule allowed them to split full-time care of their special needs child. Their daughter, who was in kindergarten at the time, had been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Finding the right school district for her was a critical factor in selecting their new neighborhood. A better school district meant higher-priced homes, and they were finding themselves walking in and out of houses that wouldn’t even pass an inspection.
“We had to jump through so many hoops for financing, this caused a lot of struggles to find just the right home.”
Dori suggested they explore Parkview Services’ Pre-Purchase Homeownership Program.
Parkview Services was founded in the late 1960s in Seattle to create inclusive housing solutions that promote stability, opportunity, and community for children and families with disabilities. Today they serve King, Snohomish, and Skagit County families in homeownership assistance, affordable housing, and more.
The Pre-Purchase Homeownership Program offers down payment assistance in the form of a loan that is funded through various governmental and private institutions. There are no payments on the loan for 30 years or until the house is sold.
Rebecca’s family was awarded a government grant that helps families and children with disabilities get established in school districts. The grant was enough to find a home in the school district they had hoped to be in!
“I saw a home come up online, and I immediately contacted Dori and Stephanie. Stephanie went to look at it right away, and she was texting me videos of it while I was at work. We put an offer on it without seeing it in person,” Rebecca said.
“My husband was working nights, and he didn’t even know we had made an offer. When he woke up, I got to tell him we bought a house!”
After almost two years of house-hunting, Rebecca and her family (now with a second daughter turning one!) were able to move into a single-family home in a school district that possessed the resources to support their daughter.
“What we could afford when we started our home search was so limiting. Parkview opened up so many doors for us. We have a house in a great school district. We have a yard where we can barbecue and a huge greenbelt behind us for privacy. Without Dori and Parkview, we wouldn’t have this house.”
Many thanks to Rebecca for sharing her incredible story with us! And if you would like to learn more about Parkview Services, click here.
