After years of renting, Sonia Manley was ready to buy her first home.

Semi-retired and working for RoadOne Intermodal Logistics in Randolph, Sonia started with online homebuyer education through Framework, then worked with Realtor Crystal Kavanaugh to find a home in Brockton.

Sonia connected with Lori Medeiros, a loan officer with Residential Mortgage Services (a MassHousing-approved lender) who guided her through the process of applying for and closing a MassHousing mortgage loan. The loan included down payment assistance of 3% of the home's price, which made the purchase even more affordable.

Sonia's dream of home ownership is now a reality.

"The advice I'd give to someone who wants to buy a home would be to go for it," said Sonia. "You can now paint those bedroom walls black if you want to...LOL! All jokes aside, the benefits of home ownership are freedom, stability, tax advantages, increasing home equity and long-term wealth for your family."