Home is a Financial Safe Harbor

Sometimes you meet people who, simply by telling you their story, help you appreciate the life you have been given.  For me, Afrah Almalham is one of these. A young widow with four children who moved to Charlottesville from her native Iran following the death of her husband, she will soon become a new home owner with the help of Piedmont Housing counselor Virginia Leary.

Afrah made the decision to become a home owner when she realized that she was now the one responsible for her children’s financial future.  She wanted to make sure they had a firm financial base to build their future upon.  While many Americans are shying away from home ownership (see post, Home Ownership Rates Falling), this new resident clearly believes that becoming a home owner is still a viable path to achieving the American dream.