Zoe’s journey to homeownership began when she moved from China to the United States as a high school student, determined to help create a new life for herself and her mother. They dreamed of putting down roots, and with Zoe’s hard work and dedication it finally became possible.
After graduating from college in 2020 during the pandemic, Zoe began her career as an auditor at Ernst & Young before advancing to become an analyst for another accounting firm. Despite her professional success, finding a stable home remained a challenge as she and her mom moved from place to place.
The Empower Homebuyers SCC down payment assistance program helped Zoe and her mom to realize their dreams. After years of renting, they now own a permanent home of their own in San José.
“We moved a lot in the past few years–it is such a hassle, a lot to pack and unpack,” explains Zoe. “We are really grateful for this down payment assistance program. Without Empower, we would not have been able to buy a house. My mom and I can finally settle down in a home that we own.”
Zoe and her mom began to pursue their first serious search to purchase a house last year. Her mom learned about the Empower program online, and Zoe proceeded to complete the application and homebuyer education requirement in the Spring of 2023. After waiting patiently through the review process, they heard back from the Empower team around the end of August. Between paperwork and phone calls, Zoe diligently worked with the Housing Trust team to meet key deadlines. They received pre-approval by January 2024 and began shopping for a house.
“The homebuyer team are all really nice and helpful,” says Zoe. “Initially it was Hong who reached out and gave us an introduction to the program via Zoom, explaining what we needed to do to start the process. For all our follow-up questions, she was able to get back to me quickly.”
Their goal was to settle down in San José. Through the process of searching, they shifted gears based on their budget, switching away from the idea of a two-story townhouse to exploring big houses with multifamily units in Blossom Hill. At last, they came across a condo in their neighborhood community that was the perfect size for just the two of them.
Built in 1988, the condominium complex felt and looked newer to Zoe compared to many of the other homes in the area. Its location in the middle of San José was a major bonus–it was convenient for her commute to work in Redwood City. She shares that her mom’s favorite room is the living room, where she gets to watch TV at night on the couch. Zoe enjoys having her own big bedroom to relax in after a long day’s work.
Now settled and moved in, Zoe and her mom feel a sense of peace and gratitude after months of diligence and years of determination. She advises future homebuyers to have patience in the process and be proactive. “Sometimes, when I send an email, it’s better to also call to double-check. Be flexible.”
She adds, “We are really grateful for everyone who has helped us with our dream to own our own home! Everyone’s effort, including Housing Trust and our lender, made it work out for mom and I. Thank you.”
Interested first-time homebuyers can take the first step towards homeownership by visiting the Empower Homebuyers SCC website and filling-out an Interest Form at https://housingtrustsv.org/empower.