Joy’s Way: Her Path to Homeownership

Joy’s Way: Her Path to Homeownership

“Young Joy wouldn’t have fathomed this,” Joy said.

As a child, Joy imagined her bedroom as her apartment. Then, she had her own apartment. Now, she’s on the path to homeownership.

“I feel like I’m accomplishing everything younger me wanted,” she said.

Joy is partnering with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity to build a brand new home in Milwaukee’s Lindsay Heights neighborhood. Since she was young, Joy dreamed of having a place to call her own. After growing up in a home owned by her mother and watching her three older siblings purchase homes, she wanted to follow in their legacy. She chose Habitat after watching her aunt purchase a home with the program.

“I know that I will be able to afford owning a home, since Habitat mortgage payments are only 30% of my income. You can’t get that anywhere else,” Joy said. “If anything, I think this is the smartest choice to proceed with this program. They make it easy for you to afford and work with homebuyers. I couldn’t think of a smarter choice than this.”

Volunteers from Zilber, a sponsor of Joy’s home, raising walls on site

Through Milwaukee Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership program, first-time homebuyers can build a brand new home with little-to-no down payment and an average mortgage payment of less than $950/month.

For Joy, homeownership is about more than having a place to call her own. It’s about making her family and late mother proud. She holds herself to high standards, setting monthly goals and maintaining a consistent schedule to stay on track. 

“[Homeownership] is going to mean that I’m accomplishing all my goals and that I’m making my mom proud,” Joy said. “I’m holding myself to the highest standard and taking accountability. I’m learning responsibility and making my younger self and my family proud. I think of it as everybody has their different paths in life and mine is homeownership. Mine is owning things and taking care of myself.” 

Beyond homeownership, Joy has many life goals. She plans to go back to school and dreams of traveling the world. She knows these goals are possible with the financial stability that owning a Habitat home will provide. 

While the average cost to rent in Milwaukee is more than $1,800 per month, the average cost to own is more than $2,300 per month. Instead, Milwaukee Habitat’s typical monthly payment to own a brand new home is less than $950. That cost difference can result in thousands of dollars saved on housing every single year (source).

“With homeownership and Habitat, I can afford owning a home and having money left over for whatever I want to do,” Joy said. “That could be traveling or going back to school…I’ll be able to save so much money.”

As Joy works toward closing on her home, she knows that her late mom’s presence is right beside her. 

“I think she is rooting for me,” Joy said. “I hope she knows I am doing my absolute best. In my way. I’m doing it Joy’s way.”

And Joy’s way is working.