Neighborhood Stabilization Program Homebuyer Assistance Program Success

Left to right: Daughter and Rustye Barzonicovington

Rustye Barzonicovington went through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Homebuyer Assistance Program process and is now a homeowner.

She moved from California approximately 5 years ago with her daughter and 2 dogs looking to start a new life. She is a single parent. A friend of Rustye's encouraged her to attend a homebuyer education class at Nevada Partners, a non-profit agency. Rustye attended the class and thought nothing more of it.

Eight months later the house that Rustye had been renting for $1600 a month for the last 5 years was being foreclosed on. The landlord never advised her. Now Rustye was left wondering what would happen next. Where would she and her daughter go and were they going to be homeless?

Nevada Partners staff contacted Rustye for a follow-up since she had attended the homebuyer class. A counselor advised Rustye to come into the office and discuss her current situation. They explained details about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Homebuyer Assistance Program. It states that eligible homebuyers may qualify for up to $50,000 through the NSP Homebuyer Assistance Program. The NSP will allow these homebuyers to obtain funds for down-payment assistance, closing costs, principle mortgage buy down, and rehabilitation for certain foreclosed properties. It was explained to her about how to find a lender, how to get pre-approval for a mortgage, finding a real estate agent and looking for a home.

Rustye admits the hardest part was finding a home. She would go out with her real estate agent and look and look. One day they drove by a home and Rustye really liked it, they went inside and she fell in love with it. This is the home she and her daughter wanted. Rustye said the only thing it lacked was a doggy door. Much to her surprise on the second walk through, there was a doggy door, already installed. It was complete.

She is happy that went through the NSP process and became a homeowner.

Rustye states her monthly mortgage payment is much less than what she was paying in rent. When she pulls into the driveway, she still cannot believe this is her home and she lives there. Now when friends invite her to lunch or dinner, Rustye says "Why don't you come over to my house". Rustye also states that "Without HUD's programs, she would have never been able to own her own home".

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