“We’re finally home.”

“We’re finally home.”

“I’ve always wanted to own my own home,” says Angela.

With three young children, a seven year old son, Dreaquivis, and two daughters, Dreanna (6) and Dre’Angela (9 months), Angela is building this home for her family. They just don’t know it yet. Angela is planning to reveal the big surprise to her kids upon closing. 

“My son is going to be so excited,” she says.

Angela is looking forward to investing in the equity of homeownership instead of paying into someone else’s mortgage. She says that rent in the city is getting outrageous. In fact, right now one in three Milwaukee renters are spending half or more of their income on housing. By becoming a first-time homebuyer with Habitat, Angela is ensuring she can lock in an affordable mortgage rate for years to come. 

“I’m here for the long run,” she says. “I want something I can eventually pass down.”

Angela recalls growing up in a large house in Chicago. The extra space was something she had been hoping for when deciding she wanted to become a homeowner. As her family has grown, they’ve needed more space than her current rental provides. Now with some help from Habitat and its supporters, Angela is building a brand new, four bedroom home in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood. 

Angela is also looking forward to escaping the carousel of landlords at her current rental.

“The house that I’m renting has been sold four times in the four years I’ve lived there,” says Angela.

She says that her landlords have been difficult to get a hold of and aren’t making the necessary repairs to the property.

As she prepares to make the move from renting to homeownership, Angela appreciates the home maintenance and financial education courses that are part of Habitat’s homeownership process.

“[Habitat] is going to help me and teach me what I need to know to be better prepared for homeownership.”

She can’t wait for the day when they receive the keys and can say the words: “We’re finally home.”