For Pastor Micaiah Irmler and his family, the journey to homeownership began with uncertainty and a leap of faith. In 2011, their rental home was headed into foreclosure, and the prospect of finding another place to live felt daunting. At the time, Micaiah and his wife were making a combined income of just $67,000 a year in San Jose—modest by Silicon Valley standards. “Ministry jobs don’t pay well,” he shared. “You’re there for the community, you’re there to make change.”
A spontaneous visit to a neighborhood open house—sparked by his wife’s curiosity and a shared love of HGTV—set in motion a life-changing series of events. “I was literally biking to work because we couldn’t afford gas in our car,” Micaiah recalled. “We weren’t seriously considering buying a home.” But inside the open house, a kind real estate agent mentioned downpayment assistance programs, which was something Micaiah had never heard of. That night, he began researching and discovered Housing Trust Silicon Valley’s Purchase Assistance Loan (PAL) Program.
The program was rigorous, requiring the purchase of a foreclosed home in a depressed area in San Jose, with additional conditions such as requiring the property to be fully up to code—with all permits properly filed and approved.
After submitting an offer, the Irmler’s were initially passed over for a higher bid. But on New Year’s Eve, Micaiah received a call—the other buyer had backed out, and their offer was accepted. But to qualify for the PAL Program, Micaiah had to bring the home up to code after discovering the seller hadn’t pulled required permits for major work, including the roof, HVAC system, patio, and electrical. He paid out of pocket for permits and inspections before closing, determined to meet the programs requirements. “We hadn’t closed yet, so I went down to City Hall,” Micaiah recalled. “I said, ‘I’m going to pay to get these things approved, and I’m going to pay for the inspections.’” The city staff were surprised—asking why he was covering inspection costs on a foreclosed home. “I told them, ‘I have to qualify for this program.’”
In March 2012, the Irmlers closed on their first home, a 2-bedroom single family home in San Jose, made possible by a $50,000 PAL loan at 0% interest over 30 years. “I call it a miracle,” Micaiah said. “Housing Trust just made it all possible.” The terms of the loan were especially meaningful to him—not just because of the financial support, but because they aligned with his deeply held values around debt and stewardship. “[The] Bible says the borrower is servant to the lender,” he explained. “So, I’m not a big fan of doing this, like, ‘oh, I owe this person, this person, and this person.’ That puts you in financial trouble. However, for a home, it was different, and [Housing Trust] didn’t do that. It aligned with my values, so that was huge!”
Years later, with equity built and interest rates falling, the Irmlers refinanced—pulling out $50,000 and dropping their interest rate to 2%. This financial turning point allowed them to pay off their PAL loan and reinvest in their future. “When I pulled out our initial investment to pay [Housing Trust] back, I was able to purchase my daughter a home,” Micaiah shared.
Eventually, they sold the home for $1.2 million (after purchasing it for just $300,000!) and chose to donate the profit to their church, which was building a multi-million-dollar facility. “We weren’t planning to move,” Micaiah said. “We had just completed a major renovation. We brought two of our kids home from the hospital at that house. My kids learned to walk there. It was a wonderful house. But we felt led by God to do something extravagant.”
The ripple effects of homeownership are lasting: “All my kids own a home. They’re small, they don’t even know.” With the equity and refinancing, Micaiah invested in other properties, building a portfolio that supports his family’s future. “I don’t own a primary residence right now,” he said, “but at least I know they’re taken care of.”
Beyond financial gains, homeownership brought a profound sense of stability and belonging:
There was a sense of ‘I have a house!’ I loved mowing the grass, the backyard with the trampoline and swing, hosting barbecues. As a pastor, I’ve had thousands of people through my home. It was this hub that everyone knew.
The home became a place of generosity and refuge. “I’ve had people live with me for a season. You can’t do that in an apartment. When you own a home, you can offer that.”
It also opened doors professionally and personally. “We’re pastors and entrepreneurs. We’re always doing something. When you have a place that you can base things out of, it works out great,” he said. “When you feel connected to your community, you build strong bonds and relationships.”
The sense of security and peace of mind was transformative. “When you rent, you can’t control your costs. It’s so much easier to budget a mortgage,” he explained. “The quality of our living went up. The quality of our generosity expanded.” Homeownership also shaped how the Irmlers thought about their future. “Once you go through it, you know you’ve got the process. The first time is crazy—so much paperwork, a big ordeal. Now it feels like smooth sailing sailing.”
Micaiah continues to share his story in hopes that others will see what’s possible. “Don’t just say ‘I can never own a home.’ There are places out there. It’s not guaranteed, but you owe it to yourself to put in the application, go to the workshop, and see what happens.” For over a decade, he’s been a vocal advocate for Housing Trust Silicon Valley, encouraging others to explore the same path. “We’ve been singing praises for 12–13 years. A friend of ours just got their house through the Housing Trust. I even tell people in other counties and other states. Don’t make the excuse you can’t own a home. Just try!”
“When you put someone into a home they own, something changes,” he added. “There’s this sense of accomplishment, like I can do something big. Now I can leave something to my kids or my family, and they’re going to be okay.”