How I Got a 30yr Home Loan at 4%

Yes, a 30 year home loan with an interest rate at 4 percent. OK, it was not easy, took patience and (here’s the kicker) you have to have a life long disability. Or in my case, a child with one. Oh, and you need to live in California but other states have similar programs.

Here are some of the lessons I have learned from this experience:

• For those of us who struggle with disabilities there is help out there.
• Having patience saved me from making a bad financial decision for my family.
• If I can’t afford it, don’t buy it. (Thanks Dad!)
• My family, while struggling with Autism and its challenges, is truly blessed.
• Help others to achieve the dream of home ownership.

My story goes like this. Our family moved four years ago to Long Beach, California because of its school programs for children with Autism. However, at the time it was at the height of the housing market and home prices in the area were out of reach for us. So we rented. My job income allows my wife to stay home but we still have to sacrifice many things for her to do that. I had several friends, family members, and realtors bombard me with, “Why are you renting?” or “There are loans out there that will allow you to buy with no money down.” And believe me it was tempting. But in the back of my mind I heard my father’s voice, “If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.” We could have bought using one of the “interest only” or similar loans but I always asked, “What’s going to happen when the loan became due?” Again, I heard, “Don’t worry, you will be able to refinance” and again I was tempted.

Just over 2 years ago while doing some research on children with disabilities I stumbled upon the website of the California Housing Finance Agency or CalHFA as its known. I could not believe my eyes. Yet there it was, we were eligible for the Homechoice loan program that offered a 30 year loan at 4 percent for people with disabilities. They also offer other loan programs to help first time buyers. However, there was one problem and it was a big one. The loan only offered up to the Fannie Mae conforming rate which was not enough to cover a house in our area without having to come up with a huge down payment—around $200,000! So while my hopes seamed dashed at that time nevertheless I waited.

Then the housing market crashed. Now while this hurt many people, especially those with bad loans, including friends of mine, this became a huge opportunity for my family. Home prices fell so much so that the Homechoice loan program now covered the house we wanted to purchase. I still had to come up with a five percent down payment but I had saved it sacrificing new cars, tv’s etc. Our cars are over 10 and 8 years old!

We finally put an offer on a house and our loan with CalHFA went through. We became home owners on September 17, 2008. Which we are totally blessed to have happened because one week later CalHFA had to suspend the Homechoice loan program and some others due to the current financial crisis. I am hoping that they bring them back soon and will post as soon as they do. I want as many people as possible to have a chance at owning a home, especially those with disabilities as that is where my heart is. So with some patience, some wisdom gained from a very wise father, and some prayer, a lot of prayer, our dream of home ownership came to be. Hopefully, this will help someone else acheive that dream too.

Never Alone—Song Breaks Through Autism to Help My Son Speak

I have a son, Tommy, who has Autism and up until he was six or so, was not very verbal. Whenever we go someplace in our car we always “have to” play some type of music when Tommy is with us. He insists on it! Autism parents know what I am talking about. While in the car he is always exposed to different types of music. Children songs, classical, Christian, and many others. Well, one day we were driving in our car and listening to Mercyme, one of our favorite Christian bands. Their song “Never Alone” was playing and I was brought out of a daydream by what sounded like an angel.  I heard this sweet voice singing,

Then a voice comes calling out to me
You’re never alone cause I am with you
And I will always be
I will hold you cause you belong to me
You’re never alone cause I’ll be with you
For all eternity

I could not believe what I was hearing. For the first time ever, Tommy was singing!  If you don’t know about autism, it is about being alone in a world of your own. For a boy who could barely say a few words to sing so beautifully, so clearly, I really believe he was feeling the presence of God. I know I was. That it was this particular verse and song, it brought tears to my eyes. It still does.  Any doubts about the power of God instantly ended that day. I am still in awe when I think that it was a song about God always being with you, even inside the world of autism, that the Lord chose to help Tommy reach out to the outside world around him.

Since singing that first song—Tommy’s Song as I call it now—he loves to hear and sing to Christian music, especially Third Day. Which is why I like that band so much.  He can belt out a mean “I Can Feel It” and likes “Creed” very much. Also, we have discovered that Tommy has a knack for music. He taught himself to play chords on our piano and can play some songs just from hearing the music. He also puts words to the actual melodies and beats, which is hard to describe without hearing it. He just hears things much differently then we do.

Tommy can speak today. He still has trouble trying to express himself but he is fully verbal. My wife and I briefly got to meet Bart Millard of Mercy Me at a show at Crossroads Church in Corona, California but we did not have the chance to tell him about Tommy’s singing. Hopefully, somehow, someday both bands will get to know how their music has helped our son to become fully verbal and how much it means to us. Because their music is much more than some words or melody playing. It is God’s work through those He has blessed with the talent to spread His word. I have seen His amazing music work in my life. Tommy’s too.