If they needed a reminder they weren’t in Iowa anymore, Godfried Asante and Matthew Hoeg got it when they started shopping for a home in the San Diego area earlier this year.
“In Iowa, the housing market was not very competitive,” said Godfried, an assistant professor at San Diego State University (SDSU). “There you had more bargaining power. But in San Diego, it is more stressful and the market is very competitive. Seeing people at open houses always reminded us of that market competitiveness.”
Matthew, who also teaches at SDSU and serves as a Fair Housing Outreach Coordinator for CSA San Diego County, said at first the couple also faced the challenge of having a down payment of less than 20%.
Then Godfried learned about Landed’s mission to help essential professionals buy homes via an email from the university. He and Matthew were soon learning more about how we partner with eligible homebuyers so they can reach a 20% down payment.
“We wanted to know what the partnership would look like,” Matthew said. “We needed to think through the practical details and the ‘what ifs?’: what does it mean to us financially? What’s involved in the long term?”
Godfried and Matthew outside their new home near San Diego, CA.
“We asked hard questions and got straightforward answers,” he added. “Our doubts were cleared.”
Next, they just had to find a house. Godfried was looking for something newer with outdoor space, including a garden. Matthew wanted an open concept, a large kitchen, and places to enjoy the sun.
They finally decided on a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in El Cajon, which includes a pool and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which can be rented out or used by visiting family and friends. While the home is older (built in the 1950s), it has been updated throughout.
“We love the pool, the backyard, the outdoor entertaining space,” Godfried said. “The house isn’t too big either, so utilities aren’t too expensive, and the home was updated and move-in ready.”
The couple enjoys the indoor and outdoor living spaces of their new home.
The couple is grateful that they worked with Landed, and appreciated being able to reach out anytime with questions.
“Having someone we could talk to directly, getting an additional critical perspective, was super helpful,” Matthew said. “Landed has a stake in the home as well, and they helped validate that it was a good home and a good investment.”
“And once we saw how the down payment program is structured, we learned that there is security in the simplicity of the agreement,” he added.
Their advice to others who are considering partnering with Landed?
“It’s understandable that people might be hesitant about programs like Landed,” Godfried said. “But the benefits outweigh the fears, especially if you are from an underrepresented group. Landed can help give you more leverage.”
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