Empowering Sylvia to Keep Her Very Special Home

We love to help people achieve homeownership but did you know that we also help people STAY in their home through our Home Preservation and Reverse Mortgage programs? Read on to learn how we helped homeowner, Sylvia, stay in her home.

80-year-old Sylvia Johnson has lived in her Paso Robles home for 27 years after building it from the ground up alongside her husband after her two children had flown the nest. Tragically, Sylvia's husband passed away unexpectedly at the age of 55 before the house was finished, leaving Sylvia to continue the build alone.

"I was in there every day it was being built," remembers Sylvia, "and because of losing my husband during that time my home is more special to me than anything."

When it came to obtaining a reverse mortgage for her home in September of this year, Sylvia felt a little nervous about the process and dreaded reading all the paperwork. When she spoke on the phone with Gaby, VCCDC's Homeownership Specialist, her fears melted away.

"It was like she was sitting at the table with me. I thought I knew a lot about mortgages but I couldn't believe how much I learned from Gaby! I'm not easily impressed and boy was I amazed. Through our coaching sessions, Gaby really knew what she was talking about and I felt I could trust her with this big decision".

Hearing about Sylvia's relief and joy thanks to Gaby's help is heart-warming, especially knowing how important her home is to her.

A reverse mortgage is a type of home loan for seniors ages 62 and older that allows homeowners to convert their home equity into cash with no monthly mortgage payments. Reverse mortgages should be approached with caution as it may not be a good financial decision for all homeowners. VCCDC offers Reverse Mortgage Counseling to help homeowners understand how reverse mortgages work and what they mean for you and your family before borrowing.

If you are a homeowner our Homeownership Specialists can assist you with valuable information and guidance on maintaining and preserving your home through Foreclosure Prevention Counseling or Reverse Mortgage Counseling. VCCDC also provides workshops on various topics like budgeting, home maintenance and repairs, what to do if one falls behind on mortgage payments budgeting, credit, refinancing, property taxes, estate planning and more.