Happy families are repeat customers for FHA in Mississippi

HUD employees Naima Hull, fair housing specialist, and Phyllis Mason, customer service representative, assist visitors.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA): 80 years helping families become homeowners

Oscar and Ouida Leason have a multi-generational FHA family. As a young married couple, an FHA insured mortgage allowed the Leasons to become first time homeowners more than 35 years ago.

Their daughter and son-in-law, Karyn and Gabriel Dixon, needed additional living space when their family grew from three to five with the birth of twin boys. The Dixons became first time home owners and were able to move into their FHA insured home before the twins were born in March of 2011.

The Leasons and the Dixons joined the HUD Mississippi Field Office 80th Anniversary celebration of FHA in the Jackson Community Housing Expo in Jackson. The event took place during the summer; several customers and industry partners expressed their appreciation for the FHA programs.

Among them was Kimberly Peale, a mortgage loan originator with Regions Mortgage. More than 60% of her business consists of FHA and rural development mortgages. For Peale, FHA is important because it opens the home buying market up to a broader group of people due to its less restrictive policies and home buyer assistance programs.

Two generations of the same family appreciate FHA; Oscar and Ouida Leason with grandchildren Kennedy, Connor, and Zachery Dixon.

Carla Palmer-Allen, owner/ of CPA Realty, indicated that FHA has allowed first time homebuyers to achieve the dream of being a homeowner: "Finding the cash for down payment and closing costs when trying to buy can be a stumbling block for many potential homeowners, and FHA has often offered lower down payment requirements than most conventional loans. This allows lower to middle income home buyers the opportunity to afford the purchase of a home," said Palmer-Allen. "Achieving the American Dream of homeownership builds communities and building communities helps grow our economy. So thank you, FHA, for your contribution to Homeownership and our Economy," concluded Palmer-Allen.

To learn more about how FHA can help you, please read: How to buy a home on HUD's website.

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