Lift to Rise helps Coachella Valley family buy first home
Shay Lawson
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley family received the keys to their first home this week after nearly 2 years in the homebuying process.
They ultimately found and qualified for Riverside County’s 20% down assistance program — a program they were connected to through Lift to Rise.
Lift to Rise is a nonprofit organization that works to improve housing stability.
Jose Zavala said he felt excited walking into the home with his wife and 2 children.
“We finally had a home for my family,” Zavala said. “Especially because we have a new baby.”
Zavala said he first learned about the county’s 20% program through a Lift to Rise community workshop where Veronica Lopez, a senior loan officer with Secure Choice Lending, explained how to qualify.
“She talked about different things — like how to find the home, the credit score and how to manage different things,” Zavala said. “That really helped me understand the aspects of buying your first home.”
Lopez said the turning point came when the county raised its income limits earlier this year.
“They were just slightly over the income limit last year,” Lopez said. “When the county announced the updated limits this summer, I immediately called them.”
Zavala encourages other families to get informed.
Stay with News Channel 3 for the full story at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.