Harriet Williams began her journey to homeownership five years ago when she had the good luck to find a job with HUD through the Welfare to Work Training Program. Harriet showed promise in her new job, and after completing her Welfare to Work program she became a full time, valued employee as a clerk for the Division Director in Columbia HUD's Multifamily Housing Division.
Working for HUD showed her that she had other options than paying rent forever. Last year, Ms. Williams learned all she could about the home buying process and began looking for a home to purchase. She found what she wanted in a patio home subdivision that was being developed off Sumter Highway in Columbia, South Carolina. The complex was named Ashwood Commons (below) and she found the perfect unit to purchase but
![]() |
Her initial application was submitted but she was turned down for regular FHA financing. She was offered a loan at a higher interest rate - 9% - but Harriet had done her homework and knew that this rate was too high. She decided to wait and try to obtain more favorable financing terms. Several months later she applied through another FHA approved lender. The lender's underwriter initially rejected her loan, due to some credit issues.
Harriet sought advice from Bill Snelling, Supervisory Housing Program Specialist, in the Single Family Housing Division. Mr. Snelling helped Harriet review her credit report and explained to her how to address some of the credit issues. Her mortgage company was informed that HUD employee loans had to be submitted to the Atlanta Homeownership Center for review. Personnel in the Homeownership Center underwrote her application and determined she needed to wait several months and maintain her current credit obligations in an acceptable manner. Harriet reapplied in early December and her loan was approved.
![]() | ![]() |
On January 17, 2003, Harriet (above) became the proud owner of a patio home in Ashwood Commons Subdivision. She says, "Hard work and perseverance pays off!"