El Centro Success Story: Eric and Yesenia buy a home

Family, friends, and community are strong foundations to build a successful life. So often it happens that just when we want or need something, a family member, a friend or someone from the community appears to point the way or make a connection. For Eric and Yesenia, friends, family and community have always been there for them, and when it came to buying their first home, it was a combination of all three.

Eric and Yesenia

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The young couple thought that owning a home was a dream at least for a while. Yesenia, the first in her family born in the US, and Eric, who came to this country as a child from Honduras, come from hardworking families who sacrificed for their children, but were unable to achieve home ownership. But their parents provided each with a great deal, and Eric learned the building trades through his father, and today he co-owns a construction company with his dad. 

With two incomes and owning a company, they started seeing their dream as a possibility. Yesenia told her best friend that she and Eric wanted to buy a home. That friend, Tlalli Bocanegra, works at El Centro and she immediately responded to Yesenia.

“Come to us. We’ll help you.”

Eric first attended El Centro’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and met with Annie Galan, El Centro’s Community Outreach Coordinator and a tax preparer. Annie provided the expertise, and  Eric started getting his company’s finances in order–managing his accounting, keeping good records, and setting foundational business practices–and filed all of his back taxes so he was up to date. With a solid track record of tax filings and other proofs of income, Eric and Yesenia were ready to take the next step, and Annie continued to work with the young couple.

“Annie from El Centro listened,” Yesenia says. “She believed in us and showed us that this dream was possible. She guided us every step of the way, connected us with the right people, and helped us understand the process with patience and compassion.”

Annie introduced them to Spanish-speaking real estate broker, Sol Carmona from NOLA Best Realty LLC, and a mortgage broker, Divine Mortgage LLC. Not much later, Eric and Yesenia found a house, and secured a mortgage. 

Today, Eric and Yesenia own a beautiful home and look forward to making beautiful memories. And one memory that already stands out is how they were able to connect with El Centro and begin making their dream into a reality.

Eric and Yesenia in front of their new home

“In the past, I had reached out to other organizations looking for help, but no one could really point us in the right direction,” Eric says.  “Then we found the people who truly believed in us, and everything started to change. We will always be grateful for the kindness, encouragement, and support they gave us.”