Before I made my final decision, I got all the details of the loan option in writing from the lender. Then I went to another lender to see if they could be competitive with the loan I had already found. It was a good thing that I shopped around. The other lender offered the same interest rate but reduced the origination fee and waived the credit report and loan processing fees. I highly recommend getting everything in writing from the beginning — this really helped when I was bargaining for a better loan package. I also asked the loan consultant to go through the entire loan document with me, line by line. Throughout the process, I felt like I was in control and able to negotiate to my advantage.

After I got pre-approved, I started to house hunt. I found a three-bedroom condo that I liked, in a recently completed community near the center of town. Working with my real estate agent, I submitted an offer that was accepted by the seller. As they say, the rest is history. I found a leaky sink and a broken light switch in the final walk-through, so the seller agreed to have them fixed. The closing was there before we knew it. It felt amazing to walk through the front door with Peter and Sarah! Since my divorce, I have often doubted my ability to give them everything they deserve. Finally, I knew that I could be a provider for myself and my children.

There was one time when I actually did miss a mortgage payment. I had back surgery and had to take six weeks of unpaid leave, and I knew I wouldn't have enough money that month for my house payment. Even though I was nervous, I gathered up all my courage and called my lender early — before my next payment was due. To my relief, they understood my situation, and they helped to work out a payment plan that allowed me to catch up on the money I owed.

In the last few years, I’ve had financial bumps along the road and sticking to my budget is hard some months. What's helped is that I set aside each month money for my taxes and insurance in an impound account, so I don’t have to worry about making those payments separately when they come due. But when I see the happiness on Peter and Sarah’s faces, I realize it’s all worth it. At the end of every day, we have a place to call home!