Wilma Quezada was congratulated by the City of Lima Public Information Officer Jessica Begonia after becoming qualified for a home mortgage Friday at the NACA homebuyer event.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — One out-of-state resident achieved her dreams by attending the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America in Lima. Wilma Quezada, from Pennsylvania, is now officially on the road to owning her first home. Quezada joined the NACA program after taking a leap of faith. The City of Lima hosted a three-day ‘homebuyer’ event at LACNIP, 1440 W. Spring St. Community members gathered Friday to receive guidance for purchasing a home.
Quezada shared her story.
“I’m super glad that I didn’t listen to all the negative stuff that people were saying (from reviews online),” said Quezada.
Quezada said she found a home and then found a counselor through the NACA program that helped her along the journey. After completing the online forms, her counselor informed her of the in-person event in Lima and she decided to attend.
Quezada said she was approved on Friday and can now move forward toward homeownership.
“I definitely just want to reach out to young people, people of color and Latinos, you know everybody,” said Quezada. “I think it’s good to know there are resources available to help you. If you want this and you put in the work this is a way to help make it happen.”
In February, the City of Lima changed the First Time Home Lima program from down-payment assistance of $6,000 upon completion of the program to $14,999. City of Lima Public Information Officer Jessica Begonia said the programs can go hand-in-hand.
“Getting qualified for the mortgage through NACA’s program,” said Begonia. “It opens the door for community members to be able to qualify for the first-time home buyer’s credit. You need to have the mortgage qualification and you need to have that pre-approval from a bank or mortgage provider in order to complete the first-time home buyer’s credit so doing that here today is just one step closer.”
The weekend-long event was the first in Lima.
“There is great support in the City of Lima,” said NACA Media Coordinator Nardella Thomas. “The administration, just from working with them, you know how committed they are to seeing their residents and that is a quality of life. That is a two-way partnership. The city wants you to remain in Lima, live well and thrive. I am just blown away and so humbled. I am looking forward to seeing home-buyers turn into homeowners.”
Community members are welcome to walk into LACNIP from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. Workshops will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.
For more information visit cityhall.lima.oh.us.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
