The Journey to Successful Homeownership
By Erin Walker, Homeowner Services Manager
“Hi, I’m Erin, and I lead our Homeowner Services team at Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury.
My role is to walk homebuyers through every step of the journey, from applying to our program to building their home, to closing day, when they officially become homeowners.
I work to equip families with the tools and support they need to become successful, long-term homeowners who can confidently care for and afford their homes for years to come.
Our Homeownership Program begins with financial education through our Get Ready Program. During this phase, families learn practical budgeting skills, debt management strategies, and how to build sustainable savings. After graduating and qualifying for a mortgage, families spend about a year maintaining their budget, preparing for homeownership, and volunteering in the community.
Every Habitat family completes at least 200 sweat equity hours. At least 110 of those hours are spent on our construction sites, helping build their own home alongside volunteers and neighbors. That investment of time creates pride and ownership long before they receive their keys.
Closing days are always my favorite. Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury not only selects families, builds the homes, and provides education, we also serve as the mortgage lender on each house.
That’s right. Habitat homes are not free.
Each affordable mortgage is tailored to a family’s specific financial situation. No two mortgages are exactly the same, but they share one guiding principle: keeping total housing costs - including principal, taxes, and insurance - below 29% of a household’s income.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the rising cost of housing in Middle Tennessee. For many families, the market is simply out of reach. One way we help bridge that gap is through a silent mortgage. This is an interest-free second mortgage that covers the difference between the home’s appraised value and what a family can afford. It requires no monthly payments. After five years, the balance begins to decrease by 5% each year and is fully forgiven by the end of the loan term.
We’re often asked, “Do you buy back homes?” While we retain the first right of refusal on every home we build, we typically do not repurchase homes from our homeowners. The reason is central to our mission. We exist to create affordable housing and build generational wealth. If we repurchased homes at market value and resold them below market, the model wouldn’t be sustainable. Allowing families to sell at market value allows them to build real equity or pass the home on to their children as an asset.
The impact is clear when you look at the numbers.
To date, 204 homes currently occupied by original Habitat homeowners were purchased for a combined total of $27,240,807.
Today, those same homes hold a total unrestricted market value of $66,725,902.
That represents $39,547,094 in wealth created for local families, an average of $194,858 in equity per home.
That’s more than housing. It’s stability. It’s an opportunity. It’s a foundation families can build on.
When I hand over the keys on closing day, I know we’re not just celebrating a milestone. We’re opening the door to stability and long-term security.
Watching families grow into confident, successful homeowners is the greatest reward. That’s why this work matters.”