Patience Pays Off: How Senora Landed Her First Home with Help from WSFS Mortgage

The dream of homeownership is a milestone many consumers strive for. The house hunting and mortgage process can also be daunting – particularly in recent years with elevated interest rates and bidding wars – emphasizing the importance of patience and having a strong plan in place.

Senora’s journey to homeownership began with attending a NeighborGood Partners seminar in the Spring of 2024, where she met Mary Ann Cronin, CRA Mortgage Loan Officer at WSFS Mortgage.

“This was my first home purchase, and it can be a process that sometimes you’re just not aware of everything that is required,” said Senora. “So, I registered for the program through the State of Delaware to learn more about what was needed in the mortgage process, and Mary Ann happened to be one of the panel speakers. After that, she was the first person I called to get the process started.”

Mary Ann and Senora were able to work together to reserve funds through a First Front Door grant that would be set aside for six months while they searched for the perfect home. Senora, a Veteran, was also able to work with her homebuying team to identify other grants and financing options like Delaware State Diamonds, WSFS programs and the City of Dover First State Program financing for Veterans.

Have a Trusted Team in Place

“It’s good to have a team to trust and feel confident with while going through this process,” said Senora, who worked with StandByMe financial coaches and housing counselors from NeighborGood Partners, her real estate agent, attorney, a representative from the City of Dover, and Mary Ann to help make her dream become reality.

For other aspiring homeowners, Senora offers some sage advice for helping to build your team and make informed decisions throughout the mortgage process.

“Know why you want to go down the path of homeownership,” she said. “You’ll need someone who wants to help you reach that finish line. But you also need to do your own homework as well, understanding the different layers in the process. You have to be organized, stay on top of all correspondences and just keep communicating at all times during the process. Always reach out to your team with questions and to weigh your options and closing costs.”

Your homebuying team will always play a key role in locating properties that qualify for different grants and affordable mortgage programs.

“Mary Ann took me by the hand to walk me through what grants would qualify for which homes,” said Senora. “She helped me understand where the boundaries are for qualifying for the different grants. I ended up qualifying for $45,000 in grants through the DHSA Welcome Home Delaware Diamonds, Dover First Start and First Front Door programs, which helped tremendously.”

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

After a few months of practicing patience and trusting in the process, Senora recently achieved her dream of purchasing her first home and being a homeowner.

“It still hasn’t sunk in. I’m still in the process of getting things the way I want them,” she said. “I can tell anybody that’s thinking about doing this that you need to be realistic about what you can and can’t afford. Remember, this is an investment and you’re in it for the long haul.”

By doing your homework upfront, practicing a little patience and building a strong homebuying team, you can set yourself up for a successful home purchase like Senora.

“My dream came true — that is to OWN my home,” said Senora.