"This is a dream come true," Jewell said. I wanted to buy a home for us, but never thought I could find a way to do it."

Jewell used a combination of programs to make ownership of her home on the Quaker Ridge Road possible. USDA Rural Development provided her with funding through the Housing Program's Section 502 Direct Program, which helps low-income rural Maine residents obtain the dream of homeownership.

She combined that loan with the new HUD American Dream Downpayment Initiative, which helps first-time low- and moderate-income homebuyers with the largest hurdle of homeownership-downpayment and closing costs.

"Many families are able to make monthly mortgage payments, but are not able to save enough for closing costs," said William Burney, HUD's acting Maine State Director. "With a little assistance, buying a home may be much easier than people think."

With assistance, Jewell made needed upgrades to the home that included replacing floors, remodeling, installing a radon system, and making structural improvements to the garage.

"Now I am living in a rural area, which I love, and the payments for my mortgage, taxes, and insurance combined are more than $200 a month less than the amount I was paying for rent," she said.

"The best thing about having a house is I can have a lot of pets, and there are good neighbors next door," added son Jordan.

For information on rural programs available at a local USDA Rural Development office, visit USDA's http://www.rurdev.usda.gov website. More information about HUD and its downpayment assistance program is available at www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/addi/index.cfm.

Content Archived: March 21, 2011