In her mid-20s, Kirsten English was ready for a change. She had moved away from her family and spent approximately five years living in an apartment. While the apartment gave her a place to begin building an independent life, she eventually realized she wanted something more permanent.
“I was tired of apartment life,” Kirsten recalled. She wanted greater privacy, a place that belonged to her, and the security of knowing she could settle into a home of her own.
At the time, Kirsten worked at American Income Life. As she began talking with her coworkers about purchasing a home, one of her trainers recommended NeighborWorks Waco. The trainer was going through the organization’s homebuying process herself and believed its services could help Kirsten overcome one of her greatest concerns: finding the money for a down payment and closing costs.
Kirsten contacted NeighborWorks Waco and began learning what purchasing a home would require. Staff members reviewed her budget, helped her understand the financing process, and worked with her to determine what she could comfortably afford.
Once the financial pieces began falling into place, Kirsten’s father helped her search for the right house. Together, they found the home where she still lives today.
Kirsten closed on the property on March 13, 2008. Becoming a homeowner also meant learning how to care for and maintain a home. Through NeighborWorks Waco’s homebuyer education program, Kirsten learned about the many responsibilities that come with ownership. “The course taught me all the little processes of how to own a home and take care of it,” she said. “It was very interesting. You learn a lot.”
The education helped her understand that buying a home is not a single transaction. It is a step-by-step process that requires preparation, patience, and a willingness to learn.
For Kirsten, the effort was worthwhile.
Homeownership gave her the privacy she had been missing while living in an apartment. She no longer had neighbors above or beside her, and she had her own place to park. More importantly, she had a space that felt entirely her own.
Over the years, Kirsten also formed meaningful relationships within her neighborhood. She fondly remembers an older woman who lived next door when she first moved in. The two became good friends, and Kirsten watched as the woman and her son, a veteran who lived across the street, looked after one another. Although the neighborhood has changed over time and some of the neighbors Kirsten once knew are no longer there, she continues to appreciate the community and the sense of familiarity surrounding her home.
When she looks back on her homeownership journey, Kirsten feels proud that she completed the process and established a lasting home for herself. She also remains grateful for the support that made it possible. “I’m really glad NeighborWorks was there to help,” Kirsten said. “If they had not been there, I don’t know how I would have gotten into this house.”
Her advice to prospective homebuyers is to understand that the journey will take time. Buyers must be prepared not only to complete the purchasing process, but also to accept the ongoing responsibility of caring for a home. “Take it all in,” she advised. “It is a step-by-step process. Enjoy the journey.”
Kirsten especially recommends homebuyer education because it helps buyers understand responsibilities and expenses they may not have considered. The knowledge she gained gave her greater confidence as she took this important step in her life.
Nearly two decades after receiving her keys, Kirsten continues to enjoy the independence and peace that homeownership provides. For her, home means having a private, secure place where she can feel comfortable and safe. It represents the freedom to make her own decisions and build a life within a space that belongs to her.
“It’s a very safe space,” Kirsten said. “I really feel that sense of safety in my home.”
What began as a desire to leave apartment living behind became a lasting source of pride, stability, and independence. With preparation, support, and determination, Kirsten found more than a house. She found a place of her own.
