Like many couples dreaming of their future, Romae and her now-fiancé had one goal at the top of their list: to buy a home of their own. But as a young couple, they realized they had never actually sat down and looked at their finances together.

Their first real conversation about money happened not at home, but in their first meeting with their Operation HOPE Homeownership Coach, Kimberly Pickett. Romae explained, “That meeting was the first time he and I aired out all of our finances. It terrified me because I had this debt and I didn’t know what his finances were like and what his relationship with money was like.”

Sitting with Kimberly made the process feel safe, structured, and judgment-free—exactly what they needed to begin building a financial foundation together. “I never liked talking about money before,” Romae said. “It just made me uncomfortable … a little embarrassed. I’d been by myself, so everything fell on my shoulders before he came into the picture.”

As they reviewed their financial landscape for the first time, it became clear they were coming into the process with different needs. Romae carried debt that was weighing heavily on her ability to save, and her fiancé’s main goal was to improve his credit score. The comfort and trust they felt with Kimberly made it possible for them to have open conversations they had avoided in the past.

“Having a mediator made it a lot more comfortable for both of us,” explained Romae. “When it came time for that meeting, I told him, ‘I have some debt.’ I didn’t disclose how much, but I felt like there was no judgment from her, so I was a lot more relaxed. And [the same thing happened] when we talked about his credit score—it just helped both of us not judge the other person.” Once they felt safe discussing their finances openly, they were ready to tackle the financial changes that would have the biggest impact.

For example, Romae raised the idea of consolidating her credit card debt into one loan, and Kimberly helped her look for the best options by cautioning her to read the fine print. “Kimberly told me to make sure that I was looking at the interest rate and payment terms, and that you’re not agreeing to something that will put you further back,” said Romae.

This strategy lowered her payments by $400 per month and, as that debt came down, something equally meaningful happened: it opened the door for her fiancé’s credit to rise, too. Because her credit profile was now stronger, she was able to add him to her credit cards and give him the chance to improve his score. What began as a solution for her debt became a shared win by lifting their respective credit scores by more than 60 points apiece.

Romae said Kimberly’s patience and flexibility also made a huge difference—especially since “our toddler was at every meeting,” she said, laughing. She appreciated Kimberly’s willingness to walk through different scenarios and be completely honest about how each one would affect their goal of buying a home. “I asked Kimberly, ‘What happens if I decide to quit my job and be a stay-at-home mom?’” she recalled. “And she was honest, telling me our financing options would change significantly because we’d be working with just my fiancé’s income.”

By the time they reached closing day on their new home, their finances were organized, their credit scores had improved, and they had a clear, shared understanding of how to manage their household money. Buying their first home together was a milestone that meant far more than simply receiving keys. “We hosted our family for Thanksgiving with about 50 people, and I loved every minute of it,” Romae said. Creating space for memories was one of the reasons they wanted a home in the first place.

Now that they’ve achieved one of the biggest milestones of their lives—closing on their first home—they’re excited to turn their attention to what comes next. As Romae put it, “Now that we’ve finally been able to close and move in and get settled, we can focus on our wedding and entrepreneurial ventures we’re interested in exploring.”

With a solid foundation beneath them, they’re stepping into the next chapter with confidence, clarity, and hope.

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