Could You Chart a Similar Path to Buying a Home?

Meet Layanna, a teacher and single mom. Through her commitment to her goal and the support of her real estate agent, loan officer, and community, now she's also a brand-new homeowner.

"Owning my home means pure happiness because being able to provide more stability and a better sense of security to my family means the world to me," Layanna said. "Moving forward at the right time truly became a prayer answered and a blessing openly received."

Read the whole story of how Layanna's dream of buying a home for herself — and, more importantly, for her two sons — became reality.

If you're hoping to become a homeowner, too, you might benefit from the steps that made the difference for Layanna.

• Know that you can get a mortgage with a down payment as low as 3%. For example, Freddie Mac's Home Possible^®.
• Do your research.
• Understand what's involved in buying and owning a home.
• Sharpen your financial management skills. Layanna took the CreditSmart^® course taught in–person, earning the homebuyer education certificate required for certain low down payment mortgages, including Home Possible. CreditSmart also is available on–line; however, that version does not result in certification.
• Take advantage of programs that make it faster and easier to save for a down payment.
• Make the most of the array of resources available to eligible homebuyers, including state and local homebuyer–assistance programs. Learn more about down payments and down payment assistance.
• Don't assume that having student debt will prevent you from qualifying for a mortgage.
• Work with a team of knowledgeable, supportive, housing professionals.

Go to My Home by Freddie Mac^® for information on the homebuying process, from end to end.