Tidings of Home Comfort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 23, 2004

Tidings of Home Comfort


AURORA, Colorado—December 23, 2004— As Sharon Dotson stepped out her front door she inhaled the crisp winter night air still in disbelief that she was standing on her own porch.

She gazed at her new neighborhood as it glowed with festive lights, and as she turned back to go inside she tried to grasp the reality that her home had the same magical glow.

Dotson, along with her husband and four-year old son, was given the gift of homeownership this Christmas. And as for this holiday season, they are going to celebrate Christmas the way they've always dreamed of, in their own home.

"When we were living in apartments I didn't take the time to decorate the way I always wanted to," said Dotson. "We would put up a Christmas tree but we never went all out like we plan to this year."

Dotson settled for small Christmas trees in white walled apartments for over ten years. Financial difficulties and a lack of knowledge blocked Dotson from her hope of purchasing a home.

"Even though I had some financial difficulties I made it a goal of mine, especially being a parent, to reestablish credit and start saving to purchase a home," said Dotson. "I wanted my son to grow up with a backyard like I did, pets like I did, and to have a home that provided him with a stable school and steady friends."

Dotson's determination and dedication paid off. She reestablished her credit, and was able to make monthly mortgage payments. The next obstacle was scraping up and saving the thousands of dollars needed for a down payment.

Then Dotson received overwhelming news from her loan officer.

"I informed her that usually the greatest obstacle to homeownership is coming up with the down payment," said Dotson's Loan officer Lanee' M. Love of GMAC Mortgage. "Then I saw the hope flow back into her eyes when I told her that there are non-profit organizations set up across the nation that provide grants that cover the down payment."

"Lanee provided me the information for all the down payment assistance programs, and after learning about the programs I decided to use Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold to purchase our new home," said Dotson.

Through Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold, Dotson was able to purchase her home just in time for the holidays.

"This program made it possible for me and my family to get into a home that is truly amazing," said Dotson. "It made our dreams come true, and I am thankful for charities like this that help people get into homes."

Just in the two months that Dotson and her family have owned their three bedroom, three bath home, they have witnessed the benefits of homeownership.

"There is that certain pride you feel with homeownership," said Dotson. "By getting to know your neighbors you feel like you are part of a community, and best of all my son is thriving in school and I can really see the difference it's made in his life."

Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold has helped over 11,000 people reap the benefits of homeownership in Colorado alone. Their aim is to help people get into homes and keep them there.

"We still stand back and look at our home," said Dotson. "It still feels like a dream, a wonderful dream."

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Press contacts:
Rod Waller, Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold PR, 888-627-3023, ext. 371, rod@buyersfund.com
David Ahrens, Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold PR, 888-627-3023, ext. 367, david@buyersfund.com

In July 1999, Buyers Fund, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, was formed to help home buyers receive downpayment assistance. They pioneered same-day funding, flexibility in changing grant requests at a moment's notice, and mortgage payment protection insurance. Buyers Fund has also become well-known for its customer service and is recognized throughout the industry for its premier grant-processing staff. It is renowned for offering a nationwide network of premier sales professionals who provide education, training and marketing support for real estate professionals. Buyers Fund-Neighborhood Gold has experienced impressive growth in less than five years—from six home buyers taking advantage of their services the first month to approximately 3,300 home buyers using their services to purchase homes during a recent month. Since its launch, it has helped over 80,000 home buyers with more than $399 million in grant money.