On Friday, Yuridia Redondo, a single mother and first-time homeowner, welcomed Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs into her new home on Tucson’s south side.
Redondo is among 362 homeowners who have benefited from the Arizona is Home program, a mortgage assistance initiative for first-time home buyers.
The program provides down payment assistance and mortgage interest rate relief to qualifying low, moderate, and middle-income residents.
Redondo, who plans to fully move in by the new year, expressed her gratitude for the program’s support.
“Very excited and happy that I own my home…and able to give something for my daughters,” Redondo said.
The program was announced in April and focuses on eligible homebuyers in Maricopa and Pima counties.
It partners with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved counseling agencies such as the Administration of Resources and Choices (ARC), to guide participants through the homebuying process.
Debbie Chandler, Executive Director of ARC, said her organization has helped close about six homes through the program.
“We work with them through the entire process of the path to home ownership, working out their budgets and savings and finding down payment assistance,” Chandler said.
Redondo received two pieces of down payment assistance totaling nearly $61,000 through the Arizona is Home program and TruWest Credit Union Workforce Initiative Subsidy for Homeownership (WISH) program.
Chandler hopes Governor Hobbs will secure additional funding for the program.
“That’s the only way today that young people can get into homes, is with down payment assistance,” Chandler said. Hobbs echoed the need for continued support.
“We’re gonna continue to push for funding,” Hobbs said. “This program has been so successful and helped families like this one get into homes and it’s really critical.”
Chandler also urged prospective homebuyers to consider working with HUD-approved counseling agencies.
“We have access to programs and down payment assistance that other lenders don’t and our services are free,” Chandler said. “Come see us first, we are unbiased, we don’t care what lender, we don’t care who the realtor is, we bring all the pieces together and make it happen.”
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