written by Enevy Leach, Operation HOPE Homeownership Coach in San Francisco, CA
As a Homeownership Coach, I’ve had the privilege of helping countless clients navigate their journey to financial empowerment — but every once in a while, someone like Flo walks through the door and reminds you exactly why this work matters.
Flo is originally from Guatemala, a devoted mother who cares full time for her two disabled children through In-Home Support Services (IHSS). On paper, Flo faced quite a few challenges in applying for a mortgage loan. She doesn’t speak English, isn’t comfortable with computers, and her income is non-taxable — which means no W2 documentation to support proof of income.
But what she did have was a golden opportunity: her landlord of 16 years offered to sell her the house she’d been renting — no listings, no bidding wars, no competition. Just one chance to finally own the place she and her children had called home for over a decade. She came into the bank that day not to apply, but simply to ask what it would take — that was her first brave step.
On that day, I met a mother who never gave up, a woman with a deep commitment to her family, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build generational wealth.
So we rolled up our sleeves.
We worked together, step-by-step. I helped her write multiple letters of explanation in English and worked with the underwriter to document her IHSS income. I printed and scanned documents, helped her respond to emails, and coordinated with her real estate agent and other parties involved. I also identified relevant programs that assist homeowners, and we were both excited when she qualified for two Bank of America down payment assistance grants. After two and a half months of persistence, patience, and partnership, Flo closed on her home.
She bought it for $340,000 — and it appraised at $460,000. That’s $120,000 of instant equity.
Flo now owns the home she lived in for more than a decade. Her children get to stay in the neighborhood they know. And she made one of the most powerful financial moves of her life — against all odds.
This is what empowerment looks like. It’s not about having a perfect file or knowing all the right answers — it’s about having the courage to ask the first question. Flo’s story reminds us that homeownership is possible, no matter where you start.
Learn more about Operation HOPE’s Hispanic Initiatives here.
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