I arrived in the United States in 2002 as a refugee. I had lost my vision after a soccer injury became infected while I was a child in Ethiopia. I knew that the United States was a land of opportunity and I eagerly pursued my education and completed my Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) in 2006. I even became an American citizen in 2007. All of these dreams were coming true for me, but I still wasn’t sure if I dared to dream about owning a home.

A friend of mine who is also a realtor, Elizabeth Ashenafe, suggested that I take a class at the Portland Housing Center to learn more about the housing market in Portland. The Home Buyer Class was very informative and convinced me that I did not have to continue to pay rent. It gave me the motivation to take the next steps toward buying a home.

I met with a PHC Loan Consultant who helped structure a loan for me that was realistic and affordable. I took advantage of a loan program that was only available through the PHC and they also let me know that I might qualify for a grant through Community Vision.

The patience and helpfulness of my realtor, Elizabeth Ashenafe, cannot be over stated. She went the extra mile for me and was there at every important meeting. She is especially good at working with people who have disabilities or who face a language barrier.

My home-buying experience was surprisingly easy. I very much enjoyed working with the staff at the PHC and with my friend and realtor, Elizabeth. I highly recommend the Home Buying Class to anyone who dreams of one day owning a home.