Kay Mazara set a goal of homeownership in 2017, and started looking seriously in 2021. Now, thanks to her own diligence and with the help of a MassHousing Mortgage with Down Payment Assistance, she is happily settling into a home of her own.

A graduate of the TRIO Student Support Services program, which supports first-generation college students, Kay earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and started to build her savings. She studied the homebuying process with the help of the, "How to Buy a Home with David Sidoni," podcast and completed a homebuyer education class offered by Harborlight Community Partners (North Shore Realtors). While researching different programs for first-time homebuyers, she learned about MassHousing.

Kay began working with Realtor Lizete Alcalai, who connected her with David Fama at North Shore Bank, a MassHousing partner lender. Kay was pre-approved for a MassHousing Mortgage with Down Payment Assistance and began looking at properties around the North Shore.

A condominium in her hometown of Lynn caught Kay's eye - within walking distance of the beach. It had plenty of room and possibilities, and fit her budget, especially with down payment assistance from MassHousing.

"If it wasn’t for MassHousing, I would have used about 80% of my savings for the down payment," Kay said. "Down payment assistance has given me more money to save, and allowed me to renovate my bathroom."

Kay said that DPA from MassHousing has provided her flexibility in the renovation process, and in adding other touches to her new home.

"Owning a home is everything I could have dreamed about," she added. "I don’t have to report to a landlord, and I have my own privacy now. I can do my own thing. This is definitely a step up."