The Phone Call That Changed This Homebuyer’s Life Forever
To us, there’s nothing more rewarding than helping hardworking individuals become homeowners. Today, Jim C. shares his home buying journey and explains how one phone call changed his life.
In 2009, my wife and I lost everything we owned, including our home. That was the year my wife lost her job. Due to economic factors outside of her control, the company she worked for decided to eliminate her position. As a result, our household income was immediately reduced by 60%.
Without her income, we struggled financially. To make ends meet, we sold our personal possessions, used every penny we worked so hard to save and made early withdraws from our retirement accounts. When it looked like we were going to have to rely on credit cards to get by, we contacted a lawyer to discuss our options and were advised to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Two months later, our case was filed and we lost just about everything we owned, including our home and our vehicle. Two years passed, and we wondered if we’d ever be able to own a home again.
It was at that point my wife decided to accept an entry-level position as a Quality Auditor. Since then, she has been promoted numerous times, and is now a Senior Advanced Quality Engineer.
This past April, our bankruptcy was discharged and we began investigating our options for purchasing a home.
Before we contacted Ross Mortgage, we reached out to another well-known mortgage company in Michigan and asked whether they thought we would qualify for an FHA loan. They told us they were confident we would qualify, proceeded to run a credit inquiry and submitted our application through an automated underwriting program. We were then told we didn’t meet FHA guidelines.
A few days later, I received my VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and called the mortgage company back to see if this made any difference. I was told that we would qualify for a VA loan, only to have my application denied once again.
Instead of becoming discouraged, I decided to do a little research of my own. Through my research, I found Ross Mortgage and learned that we should have qualified through the FHA Back to Work program.
Later that day, I called them to inquire about the Back to Work program. During the conversation, I mentioned that I was also a veteran with a COE, and they assured me they could get us a home loan.
Although we qualified for the FHA Back to Work program, Ross Mortgage explained that we also qualified for a VA loan. After learning about the financial benefits of VA loans, my wife and I decided that was the best option for us.
Not only did they deliver on their promise to help us get a VA loan, my realtor told me that they did it in record time.
The team at Ross Mortgage is awesome! My wife and I really appreciate all of the work they put into making this deal work for us. Calling them has turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made in a long time. If it weren’t for them, we would be signing a lease for an apartment instead of buying a new home. Their knowledge and experience has changed our life, and we are very grateful.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jim! Click here to read more stories from customers like Jim.
(Disclosure: Names have been changed to protect our client’s privacy.)
If you’re a homebuyer looking for help, our team of professional lenders can help you find a loan that’s right for you. To start your journey to homeownership, contact us or give us a call at 800.521.5362.
