Jennie Steward says she started thinking about buying a home several years ago, but the time just wasn’t right, and she continued to rent.  But when someone tried to break into her apartment in April 2024, she knew it was time to get serious about looking for a home to buy in a neighborhood that would be safer for her and her eight-year-old son, Jaxon.

As an Army veteran, Steward frequently received information from Veterans United about mortgage and loan programs. Through Veterans United, Steward met and began working with Re/Max Associates realtor Charzell Poole.  Poole connected Steward with Jessie McConnell, a loan officer with Evolve Bank and Trust, one of Delaware State Housing Authority’s (DSHA) preferred lenders. 

By April 23, McConnell had gotten Steward, a customer service representative for Quip Laboratories, pre-approved for a DSHA Welcome Home Delaware Diamonds mortgage.  In addition to a first mortgage, Delaware Diamonds provided Steward with a zero-interest forgivable second loan of $10,000 because she is a veteran.  The loan amount will be forgivable after ten years if Steward still lives there as her primary residence. 

Working with Poole, Steward found a townhouse she liked in Wilmington, near the Latin American Community Center, and submitted an offer.  It was accepted, and she had a contract the next day.  She closed on the property on June 4.

Between her veteran’s benefits and DSHA’s Welcome Home program, Steward went to the closing owing very little.  In fact, most of her earnest deposit of $1,000 was returned to her.

Steward said her homebuying experience was “amazingly fast and pain-free,” thanks to the assistance of Poole and McConnell and DSHA’s Welcome Home program.

After having to replace her hot water heater soon after moving into the townhouse, Steward advises others looking to buy their first home to have money set aside to cover unexpected repairs and replacements.  Although she had a home warranty, she had to pay for the replacement upfront and waited several months for the warranty company to reimburse her.

Despite that, Steward said of her new home, “It’s a better neighborhood, and we do feel safer.” Her son is happy, and still able to attend the same school he did before the move.

Steward added, “It’s nice to have a place that’s my own.  I can do what I want and decorate the way I want.”