Emily Naber has always been one to watch the real estate ads and apps to get a peek at the homes for sale around her.
While she bought a studio apartment in Washington D.C. a few years back, the plan was always to find a single-family home when she had more savings. The obstacle was that she wanted to stay in D.C., where she teaches math to elementary and middle school students who speak English as a Second Language. In D.C., homes can often be out of reach for many, especially those with a teacher’s salary.
Then, she saw her window of opportunity.
“I’m really into real estate and looking at places,” Emily said. “And earlier this year I realized there is only one area left in the city where you can get a whole house for a price a teacher would be able to afford.”
“I really love living here,” she added. “My dad is here, so I have family here. I just said, ‘I should do it now because in a few years I’ll probably be priced out completely.’”
Emily heard about Landed from her school’s HR department and realized the down payment program -- where Landed helps qualifying homebuyers reach a 20% down payment -- might help her.
“D.C. teachers are paid pretty well, but not to the point that you can save up (a 20% down payment) very easily,” she said. “I can easily make monthly mortgage payments on the salary I have, but it’s not that easy to live in the city and also save up for a down payment.”
Emily was soon meeting with Landed and checking the math. She saw the savings from not having to pay for mortgage insurance (thanks to the 20% down payment) and earnings from being able to rent out her condo. Plus, there would be a big improvement in her quality of life as a result of more home space, a yard, and a community where she can root. “I decided it was definitely worth it,” she said.
Now happily settled into a four-bedroom, red-brick townhouse in the Fort Dupont area, she is glad she connected with Landed.
“The process with Landed was so quick and easy,” she said. “I think that was really, really valuable, because of course when you’re buying a house, speed is so important. I think Landed’s program is amazing for that, because everything was so efficient.”
