Congratulations to Arlyce Porcher Joseph and family, who recently purchased their first home in Brockton, using a MassHousing mortgage loan and a grant from the MassDREAMS (Delivering Real Equity and Mortgage Stability) program!

They had been renting an apartment in Boston and the DREAMS program created an unprecedented opportunity for them to purchase a house.

The DREAMS grant helped Arlyce with the down payment, mortgage insurance and closing costs, and allowed her to lower the interest rate on the mortgage loan.

Arlyce worked with Fairway Independent Mortgage to obtain the MassHousing mortgage loan and the MassDREAMS grant.

Like many hopeful home buyers over the last year, Arlyce was challenged by the housing market.

"We started looking at the start of COVID and we were standing in those long lines that you probably heard about on the news. We were outbid about three times before we decided to take a break," she said.

But she remained determined.

"We decided to start looking again this summer and worked with our mortgage broker Amy Wortzman who introduced us to our Realtor Sam Huggan of Maron Realty. After looking at numerous houses in various towns we finally found our forever home."

The DREAMS grant was the difference maker that helped Arlyce and her family make the transition from renting to owning and put them on a path to build greater financial security.

"We were super excited to hear that we may be eligible for the MassDREAMS Grant. It was a tremendous help to us. I'm not sure how far we would've gotten without it. I am so happy to have a home for my kids to come home to and extremely grateful."