Meet April & Jorge Mathews, a Milwaukee couple who transformed their dream of homeownership into reality with the help of Acts Housing.
Rising Rents Push Milwaukee Couple to Buy Home
In August of 2022, April and Jorge were renting on the south side of Milwaukee. Facing rising rent prices, they knew they needed a more stable and affordable living situation. They attended a workshop with Acts Housing at their church, Evolve, and decided to join the Acts Power Pack program.
“If we wanted to extend our lease by one month rent was going to go up by $1,000, so that was definitely not an option. If we wanted rent to stay the same, we had to commit to another year in that apartment before we could get out of it. We wanted our independence more than anything and paying someone else rent wasn’t going to be a long-term option. Homeownership hadn’t been too big in our families. So we decided we were going to be the first ones to do it and do it successfully.”
From Renters to Homeowners: Acts Housing Power Pack Success Story
April and Jorge joined the Acts Housing Power Pack program where they attended monthly cohort meetings and learned all about the homebuying process. Simultaneously, they began meeting with an Acts Homebuyer coach. Their coach assessed their credit score and provided them with a clear roadmap to improve it. With actionable steps and guidance, they were able to save money and prepare for homeownership.
“We told our coach we wanted to move in August. Our coach said that is a tight time frame, but if we were committed and were serious about it we could make it happen. That motivated us. Having her take our side and give us that pep talk that we needed, and knowing we are not alone in this process, and we had the Acts Power Pack cohort. We were in the process with Acts but we were gaining valuable information along the way.”
April and Jorge got to work right away. In a few short months, they paid off some debt, increased their credit scores, and closed out collections in their name. On July 7th, the couple’s homebuyer coach pulled their credit for the last time, told them they were ready for the next step, and sent them a list of lenders and realtors, who would be able to support them. On July 20th April and Jorge met with Johnson Bank and received their pre-approval that same week. By August they were viewing homes with their realtor. The process for April and Jorge moved quickly, but this is due to their determination and persistence, and the team at Acts that helped give them the roadmap to homeownership.
“Acts will get you in the right place with the right people, and then you have to go from there. You won’t be finding your own house, your own lender, or making payments to your own bank to try and see what you can make happen. Someone at Acts is going to tell you how to do it. How to do it, where to go about it, the right houses, the right programs for you. All you have to do is trust in the process.”
Making the Jump: Trusting the Process to Homeownership
On August 10th April and Jorge went to see a three-bedroom home with a spacious backyard. April fell in love with the wrap-around porch and the original characteristics of a Victorian house. For Jorge, it was the spacious yard and two-car garage.
April explained, “What ultimately sold it for me was when I was in the master bedroom and I went on the wrap-around porch, and seeing the whole yard, it’s on two lots, and when I looked over I thought I could see our kids here, I could see them running around the yard. So that’s what sold it for me.”
Jorge said, “We have our own space, our own peace. We don’t have anyone jumping above us, or stomping, or vacuuming over our heads in the middle of the night. And we get to see the sunrise from our balcony now.”
April and Jorge decided to leave renting behind and forge a new path for their family by becoming homeowners. By trusting themselves, and the Acts team, they’ve created a future for themselves filled with financial freedom, independence, and security.
“Homeownership means, to me, having something to pass along to my kids, having income for the future, having a debt-to-income ratio that looks right on paper and they don’t perceive us as renters. So when we go out for loans and other business in the future they say, ‘Oh you are making great payments on your house that you guys own. In the future, we know that you guys are steady and we can do more.’ It means a financial future for my family.”
Expert Advice: Turning Homeownership Dreams into Reality with Acts Housing
Jorge and April’s dedication and hard work paid off. And their dedication to the Power Pack program and sticking to their Homebuyer Coach’s advice led them to the closing table. Their advice to others considering purchasing a home with Acts, “Go for it”.
“You think, “Oh I can’t afford that right now, I got a car payment, I got kids, I got a lot going on. It can drop drastically, there’s always a chance you’ll find grants, you’ll find the right people, the right bank, and programs for you. You have to trust in the process and just get started. Getting started doesn’t mean buying a house right away. It means working on your credit, fixing your money habits, making sure your money is in the right place. So to anyone who joins the Acts program who’s a little scared, just know that you have a team, Acts, your realtor, your lender, as long as you set realistic goals they will meet you where you’re at.”
