When Hazel and Joseph decided to buy a home this year, they knew it could be a challenging job given the seller’s market in the Washington D.C. metro area, and their already busy schedules.
“The market here is super quick, so we had to be ready to act quickly,” said Hazel, an essential professional who works as an occupational therapist for D.C. Public Schools. “We agreed it would be our focus every day, Monday to Friday, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. We would look for homes, tour homes, and talk with our agent. It did feel stressful for the first couple weeks, but fortunately the process only took about 4 weeks from start-to-finish.
The couple, who plan to wed later this year, had been living in a 2-bedroom apartment and were ready to buy a place that they could personalize and make their own. But, as first-time homebuyers in their mid-20s, they didn’t know much about the process.
“I saw Landed on the D.C. Public Schools benefits webpage,” Hazel recalled. ”We shared information about Landed with our parents as a gut check, and we saw it was a great option for us to reach a 20% down payment.”
Hazel and Joseph in front of their new home.
Joseph, an engineer, said they liked that Landed –– unlike some other down payment programs –– allowed them to reach a higher down payment and didn’t put limits on where they could purchase. For example, another program was limited to a maximum down payment contribution of $10,000.
“Landed stood out because of the amount we could contribute, and we weren’t constrained by where we could buy,” Joseph said.
The couple loves their new townhome, which sits close to nice green spaces and is also just five minutes from D.C.’s metro transit system. And they have already been putting their own stamp on it, with some upgrades.
“The house checked the boxes for us,” Hazel said. “There’s a lot of space, especially in the primary bedroom. And we love that we are able to make it our own space.”
They’ve already changed out a wooden staircase (going with metal instead) and added tech updates, such as an electric car charger and Ring system.
“Unlike with renting, we can make changes here –– it doesn’t feel like someone else’s old space,” Hazel said of the joy of homeownership.
The couple says even though buying a home can be a daunting experience, they are so glad they did, and that they partnered with Landed. Their advice for essential professionals who are also aspiring homeowners?
“Don’t be shy. Reach out and say, ‘This is my situation, can this work?’” Hazel said. “It’s tough for educators –– set a budget, but don’t settle. For us, everything became possible with Landed, Landed helped make our dream come true.”
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