Putting the tools in Irenes hands

American Sign Language
for "house" is simple —
form the roof by joining
the tips of your fingers
together, then move your
hands down and apart
to make the walls.

American Sign Language for "house" is simple — form the roof by joining the tips of your fingers together, then move your hands down and apart to make the walls.
 
Buying your first house isn't as easy.

That's why 25-year old Irene, who is profoundly deaf, took KCCHA's First Time Homebuyers Class in March, 2001, when she wanted a place of her own. Co-sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and taught by local realtors, building inspectors, lenders, and escrow officers, the course takes the mystery out of buying a home. Participants learn how to choose a realtor, how to fill out loan applications, and how to avoid predatory lenders. Would-be buyers who complete the course can be eligible for down-payment assistance, special interest rates, and other help.

Armed with the information she got out of the course, Irene — then a supervisor at United Parcel Service — went to work on her credit first, paying off her car and credit cards. When she looked for homes in her price range on the Internet, she found one almost immediately.