For Jamie and Chris, the path to homeownership was all about creating more space for their children in a safe, welcoming neighborhood to with room to build a future.
Like many families working toward homeownership, Jamie and Chris knew what they wanted, but getting there would take time, planning, and a lot of hard work.
Today, they are proud homeowners through Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK). And, their journey is a reminder that becoming a homeowner doesn’t always happen overnight. For many first-time homebuyers, the path begins with learning how to budget, building credit, preparing financially, and taking one step at a time.
Working Toward a Stronger Future
Long before they moved into their new home, Jamie and Chris were putting in the work to build a stronger future for their family.
For Jamie, the goal of homeownership was deeply personal.
“I really wanted to be able to give my kids a home.”
That goal meant making changes, learning new skills, and staying focused on where they wanted to go.
Jamie worked hard both in the classroom and in her career. She completed her Medical Assisting certification through the Center for Employment Training in 2023, completed her externship at St. Elizabeth, and earned a full-time position there, where she continues to grow her career today. Chris has spent about a decade working in the hospitality industry and works full time, helping to build a stable foundation for their family.
Together, Jamie and Chris were intentional about creating more opportunities for their family.
The Work Behind Becoming a Homeowner
The dream of homeownership can feel overwhelming. Questions about credit, budgeting, saving, and maintaining a home can make the process seem out of reach, especially for first-time homebuyers.
Jamie and Chris experienced many of those same questions. But, through HONK’s homeownership program, they worked toward becoming financially prepared for homeownership. That included building credit, learning how to budget, and gaining a better understanding of what it takes to own and maintain a home.
Budgeting for Homeownership is a Commitment
Building credit took time and consistency, and learning to budget required an adjustment for their family. However, sometimes our loved ones can inspire us to reach our dreams. Chris is quick to give Jamie extra credit for the work she put into reaching their goal and helping him to level up, too.
“We definitely went through a few budgeting books,” Chris laughed.
Through homeownership education and one-on-one guidance with Gina Snavely, HONK’s Housing Counselor, Jamie and Chris were able to ask questions and learn about the financial and practical responsibilities that come with owning a home.
“Every step of the way, Gina helped us with any questions we had,” Jamie said. “I don’t really have anyone in my life that can lead me financially.”
For families who may not have parents, relatives, or friends who can explain the homebuying process, having access to education and guidance can make an enormous difference.
They couple also completed classes that helped prepare them for life as homeowners. They learned about budgeting, basic home maintenance, and the everyday responsibilities of caring for a house—things they didn’t necessarily have to think about while renting an apartment.
“They really set our family up for success,” Chris said. He picked up a few skills from his father, a master carpenter, but Chris told us how helpful HONK’s Construction Manager, Jeremy, has been through the process of becoming a homeowner for the first time. Those changes became part of the journey and part of who we are.
From an Apartment to a Backyard
The impact of their new home has been especially clear for Jamie and Chris’s four children.
For example, before moving, outdoor space was limited.
The family essentially had a sidewalk and parking lot where the children could play, while cars regularly drove through the area. Jamie and Chris wanted something different for their kids.
Now, one of the family’s favorite features of their new home is the big backyard where the children can chase one another, play soccer and basketball, ride bikes, and spend time outdoors.
For Chris, watching the children enjoy their new home has been especially meaningful. “It’s convenient that they can just run around freely.” That freedom has become one of the greatest gifts of homeownership for their family.
A House With Room to Be Kids
Inside the home, Jamie, Chris, and the four kids have far more space. Their previous apartment had become increasingly cramped.
Between clothes, shoes, pogo sticks, and everything else that comes with raising a large family, finding enough room for everyone was a challenge.
Now, the children have spaces of their own. Plus, their parents no longer worry as much about the noise that naturally comes with a household full of energetic kids.
“We don’t have to worry about how loud they are anymore,” Jamie said.
For one of their children, having a larger home has meant being able to invite friends over and host a sleepover. For another, it means having their own room where they can close the door and play with their own dollhouse. For the family as a whole, it means having enough space to grow into the life they are building together.
And for Jamie and Chris, there is something special about knowing their children can simply be children.
Finding a Place to Feel at Home – Welcome to Elsmere, Kentucky
Moving to Elsmere, Kentucky has been another important part of the transition into homeownership.
Both Jamie and Chris grew up in Newport, which meant moving farther from family and familiar schools. At first, the change felt a little intimidating.
“It’s always scary moving to a new area,” Chris said.
But as the family settled in, they discovered a quiet, welcoming neighborhood where the children could play and make new friends.
“This is a really, really nice neighborhood,” Chris said. Jamie agrees. “It’s very quiet,” she said.
Chris quickly laughed, pointing to the kids and adding, “Well, it’s never quiet when you guys are here!”
But that may be one of the best things about their new home.
The neighborhood may be quiet, but inside the house and out in the yard, there is plenty of laughter, running, playing, and the joyful noise of four children making themselves at home.
Homeownership Is a Journey
Jamie and Chris’s story is a reminder that homeownership is not always a single moment. It is a journey. It took patience. It took learning new skills and making intentional choices for their family’s future.
The journey to owning a home included working toward career goals, building credit, learning to budget, completing homeownership education, asking questions, and continuing to work toward a future that once may have felt out of reach.
Their story also shows the importance of support along the way.
At Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, we know that families come to the homeownership process with different experiences and different starting points. Some may already understand credit and budgeting. Others may be navigating those systems for the first time.
For families wondering how to become homeowners, the first step isn’t always finding the perfect house.
Sometimes, the first step is learning.
It is understanding your finances. Building or improving your credit. Creating a budget. Learning what homeownership will require. Asking questions. And finding people who can help guide you through the process.
Jamie and Chris took those steps one at a time. And today, they are home.
A New Chapter for the Whole Family
The whole family looks forward to making their house their own. They are excited to continue to decorate, create special spaces for the kids, and turn the basement into a place for recreation and family time. Chris is looking forward to putting the hands-on skills he learned from Jeremy and his father to use around the house, maybe adding a fence, a pool, and a swing set.
But perhaps the greatest change has been seeing what the home means to their children.
“Everything’s been going great,” Jamie said. “The kids seem so much happier here.”
After everything they worked toward, that may be the most meaningful part of all.
Welcome home, Jamie and Chris. We are proud to have been part of your journey and can’t wait to see all the memories your family makes in the years ahead.
Are You Ready to Explore Homeownership?
Buying a home can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
HONK helps individuals and families prepare for the path to homeownership through education, counseling, financial guidance, and support. Aprende más about homeownership opportunities and services from Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky and apply!
