The back to school season was even more exciting this year for two local families who partnered with Habitat for Humanity Choptank to buy homes in Easton. Kristan Green and family moved into a new construction house on Hammond Street in Easton. Green is employed with Wal-Mart in Easton. Over on Port Street, Lakeisha Templeton, who works at Harris Teeter, purchased a rehabbed house as the new home for her family. Both of these houses were completed using durable materials and with additional energy efficiency features so that the finished homes are affordable in both purchase price and in long-term operating costs.
With the sale of these homes, Habitat Choptank has created a total of 75 new home ownership opportunities since concerned community members began organizing around the local need for affordable housing in 1992. That effort continues as six more Habitat homes are in progress now between Dorchester and Talbot Counties. These houses located in Easton, Cambridge, and Hurlock are a mix of new construction and rehab projects.
Habitat home buyers are hardworking people who cannot qualify for conventional financing but who earn enough to assume the responsibilities of home ownership when provided with ‘right-size mortgages.’ Homes are sold with no profit to Habitat. Each house must serve as the buyer’s residence during the life of the mortgage.
Following settlement, each buyer assumes the full responsibilities of home ownership: repaying a mortgage over the next 30-33 years, maintaining the home, and paying home owner’s insurance and property taxes. With these responsibilities, also come joy and a sense of accomplishment for Green and Templeton, both first-time home buyers, who have now achieved the dream of home ownership.
In keeping with Habitat tradition, a home dedication celebration was hosted at each home. Both families expressed appreciation to Habitat Choptank volunteers, staff and donors for their support.
“I remember being asked at one of the Habitat education workshops what am I most excited about in becoming a home owner,” Green said. “I answered space, comfort and stability. Thank you Habitat Choptank for giving my family a brighter and more secure future.”
Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has empowered 75 individuals and families from Talbot and Dorchester counties to build a better future for themselves through affordable home ownership. Each home buyer contributes 300-400 hours of “sweat equity” in the building of those houses, attends education classes, saves $4,500 for costs at settlement and eliminated any outstanding collection debt for the opportunity to buy a home with an affordable mortgage. While selling its homes to mostly first-time and even first-generation home buyers, Habitat Choptank continues to maintain a less than 2% foreclosure rate with only one home foreclosed over the 25 year history. Currently, 10 buyers are working through Habitat’s multi-step program. Additional applications are welcomed. For information about home ownership, to volunteer with Habitat Choptank or to make a donation, visit www.habitatchoptank.org or call 410-476-3204.
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