My Journey to Homeownership – and Some Resources for You!
Closing day!
Disclaimer: The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has sponsored this blog post.
Hello there!
If you’ve read a blog post from me before or have met me in passing, you probably already know this, but for those of you that are new here – my name is Evann, and I’m a Detroit native (and obviously very proud of it)! I’ve been a Midwesterner my whole life, and I think that my foundation in Detroit and time spent as a college student in East Lansing (Go Green! Go White!) have shaped me into the woman that I am today.
I studied journalism and fashion design in school, and while most of my peers were making plans to move to NYC or LA after graduation, I decided to return to Detroit to try and become a change agent within my community. I feel very passionately about showing other people in the city, especially younger ones, that it is possible to create a career for yourself in Detroit and other parts of Michigan. Over the past three years, I feel like I’ve really gotten my footing, and I’m really proud of the things I’ve accomplished so far!
Looking for the perfect place…
Among those accomplishments includes purchasing my own condo almost two years ago! Honestly, my first thought was never to buy a home at such a young age. I tried moving into an apartment first but had the worst experience imaginable, and it left me feeling so defeated. After that situation, I had a talk with my parents and tossed around the idea of buying over renting. To my ever-so-pleasant surprise, my dad told me that if I was really serious about buying, he’d help me out on the financial end.
Thus, my month-long journey of finding the perfect place began. I knew one thing was for certain: my home had to be in Detroit! I found a great realtor, and she was super helpful when it came to answering all of my questions. Since this was my first time buying a property, there was SO much I didn't know and needed to learn. I was constantly texting my realtor at random hours of the day and Googling things. At times, I felt like I needed to know every. single. little. thing. there was to know about homeownership, but then I would have to snap out of it and remind myself that it was a process, and I would pick things up along the way. Baby steps!
I may be biased, but I think I’ve got the best view in the city!
I can’t remember exactly how many places I looked at exactly. If I had to guess, I’d say maybe 5 or 6? They were all in different parts of the city. There were two in particular that I didn’t love, and two that I was head over heels for. One was a chic one-bedroom in a historical high-rise, and the other was a two-bedroom townhouse with beautiful hardwood floors and a basement. I was leaning more toward the townhouse, but once I learned that it was cash-only, I let the dream go. I wanted to be able to have the interest to write off at the end of the year, so it just didn’t seem like the best decision for me at the time. Now here I am, a few months shy of my second homeowner’s anniversary, sitting in my bedroom located on the 12th floor of the most beautiful (in my opinion) high-rise in Detroit.
I’m really happy with my decision overall. I absolutely love where I live. The staff is attentive, the building is secure, it’s quiet, and most importantly, I feel comfortable (which is really crucial due to the most recent events going on in the world). I am BEYOND grateful for the support of my parents because, without them, this wouldn't have been possible for me. I’m still not done decorating, but I’ve got time for that!
Hosted my housewarming about two months after I moved in. Had so much fun showing my family & friends my new home!
Homeownership is attainable for you, too.
If you want to be a homeowner, say “I!”
Although I was able to receive financial help from my family, I realize that was a privilege for me, and is not the reality for everyone else. That’s why organizations like the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority (MSHDA) are so important. MSHDA helps to make Michigan a place where all people have quality affordable housing as a foundation to reach their full potential. They provide a variety of programs and products for both homebuyers and homeowners, including:
Down payment assistance: MSHDA offers loans with down payment assistance of $7,500.
Discounted PMI: MSHDA helps make loans affordable by offering conventional loans with discounted private mortgage insurance (PMI).
Housing education resources: MSHDA offers numerous housing education resources like education classes and one-on-one pre-purchase counseling services.
The services that MSHDA offers are truly ones I wish I would’ve looked into while I was looking for a condo. I know that homeownership can seem unattainable and intimidating, but knowledge is power! I want everyone to have as much information as possible before beginning on their own journeys to homeownership, which is why this partnership with MSHDA is so important to me.
For more information on the programs and resources that MSHDA offers, visit http://bit.ly/3aiJtjg.