“First, I tried my luck with a traditional mortgage,” Rosemeri recalled. “And this was right about the time that COVID hit, so it was a nightmare for families who were trying to buy a home. People who had more money were offering $50k to $75k over the asking price. They were buying homes without even viewing them. I stood no chance.”
But Rosemeri refused to give up. The dream of homeownership had been an unwavering goal for many years, and behind it all was a powerful motivator: her children.
“For my entire childhood, I grew up in a huge house surrounded by my family. It was my brothers, cousins, grandparents, everyone. We celebrated every birthday and holiday together in that home. My family still owns it today. Not being able to provide that for my three children has been extremely painful.”
She began looking into programs for first-time buyers, hoping there might still be a path forward even as real estate continued to change in Wake County. But when she finally found Habitat Wake, her first application was denied. Instead of seeing that as a closed door, Rosemeri took action.
"It motivated me to change roles and I got a promotion within that year."
Rosemeri's new role in the finance industry changed her ability to save and improve her credit score. With this new title in hand, she waited until she was eligible to apply again the following year. The second time, she was once again declined by Habitat Wake's application process.
"That time was due to excessive debt on my husband’s end. It was challenging as it was outside of my control."
Following this road block, everything around Rosemeri began to shift. After 11 years, her marriage came to an end. Life as she knew it was changing, but she refused to lose sight of her goal.
“The third time I applied to Habitat was after my marriage ended—and I finally got approved. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I wanted to show my children that no matter how hard life gets, you never stop pursuing your dreams. You never give up.”
Now, Rosemeri is officially moving into her new home in Knightdale, NC. After so much waiting, working, and hoping, the keys are hers. Next up? Picking out paint colors, decorating, and maybe even welcoming a family pet for her three children.
Those three kids? "They're even more excited than I am" Rosemeri shared. And at her home dedication it was clear to everyone in attendance how proud and happy they were of their Mom.
After all this time, we’re overjoyed to say the words she’s been working toward for so long: welcome home, Rosemeri!