I wrote this to my State Senator when I had just started the home buying process. I never heard back (and I really wasn't expecting to hear back) but thought I would share it here. I blanked out some of the personal informaiton because I really don't trust you. Yes, even you.
June 15, 2009
xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx, xxx x
xxxxxx, xx xxxxx
Senator Joseph Simitian
701 Ocean Street
Room 318A
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Dear Senator Joseph Simitian,
I’m writing you to inform you of a problem I am currently having. I am currently fortunate enough to be able to begin looking for my first home. So many Californians have unfortunately lost their homes because they have been unable to make their mortgage payment, which as you know, puts people like me with good credit and steady employment in a lucky position. I feel badly for those who have lost their homes but I was hoping that I might actually have a chance at home ownership in the state of my birth – something I was never sure I’d be able to accomplish before I was in my 40s!
I currently live in beautiful xxxxxx, located in the xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx. I love xxxxxx and would be glad to continue living their, unfortunately, even with a large dip in housing prices I am not able to find a home that meets the FHA standards and my budget. With this knowledge I’ve decided to expand my search and decided upon Gilroy (I know, it’s outside the 11th District, but buying a home takes sacrifice!). I am still looking at homes that are near the least expensive in the area. I’ve been able to make offers on 2 homes but on both homes I lost out to buyers who were able to buy the homes out-right with cash for investment purposes. There are few houses for me to even look at in my price range, let alone make an offer on. I am discouraged and think that perhaps my opportunity to buy a home won’t come to fruition because I can’t compete with investment buyers. My agent tells me that my experience of not being able to compete with investment buyers is very common right now. I understand that California needs all the home buyers it can get right now, but I thought it was important to let you know that people like me may very well loose out on one of our few opportunities to buy a home in California.
I currently work in the social service field as a xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx in xxx senior housing. I am lucky to make enough money to support myself but I know I will never become wealthy from this line of work. I also go to school at night where I am working on getting my Masters in Counseling Psychology. My earning potential may increase with my degree but on average most Marriage and Family Therapist only earn about $60,000 a year which only goes so far in California. One day after saving I’d probably be able to buy a home, but that probably wouldn’t be until I was into my 40s and I’d have missed out on being able to raise a family in a home of my own.
I don’t know exactly what, if anything can be done about this problem. My family has been in California since my great grandfather and grandmother moved here in the early 1920s and I hope to be able to raise a family of my own here as well – I just need a chance at buying a place to do it.
Sincerely,
First Time Home Buyer
xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx, xxx x
xxxxxx, xx xxxxx
Senator Joseph Simitian
701 Ocean Street
Room 318A
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Dear Senator Joseph Simitian,
I’m writing you to inform you of a problem I am currently having. I am currently fortunate enough to be able to begin looking for my first home. So many Californians have unfortunately lost their homes because they have been unable to make their mortgage payment, which as you know, puts people like me with good credit and steady employment in a lucky position. I feel badly for those who have lost their homes but I was hoping that I might actually have a chance at home ownership in the state of my birth – something I was never sure I’d be able to accomplish before I was in my 40s!
I currently live in beautiful xxxxxx, located in the xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx. I love xxxxxx and would be glad to continue living their, unfortunately, even with a large dip in housing prices I am not able to find a home that meets the FHA standards and my budget. With this knowledge I’ve decided to expand my search and decided upon Gilroy (I know, it’s outside the 11th District, but buying a home takes sacrifice!). I am still looking at homes that are near the least expensive in the area. I’ve been able to make offers on 2 homes but on both homes I lost out to buyers who were able to buy the homes out-right with cash for investment purposes. There are few houses for me to even look at in my price range, let alone make an offer on. I am discouraged and think that perhaps my opportunity to buy a home won’t come to fruition because I can’t compete with investment buyers. My agent tells me that my experience of not being able to compete with investment buyers is very common right now. I understand that California needs all the home buyers it can get right now, but I thought it was important to let you know that people like me may very well loose out on one of our few opportunities to buy a home in California.
I currently work in the social service field as a xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx in xxx senior housing. I am lucky to make enough money to support myself but I know I will never become wealthy from this line of work. I also go to school at night where I am working on getting my Masters in Counseling Psychology. My earning potential may increase with my degree but on average most Marriage and Family Therapist only earn about $60,000 a year which only goes so far in California. One day after saving I’d probably be able to buy a home, but that probably wouldn’t be until I was into my 40s and I’d have missed out on being able to raise a family in a home of my own.
I don’t know exactly what, if anything can be done about this problem. My family has been in California since my great grandfather and grandmother moved here in the early 1920s and I hope to be able to raise a family of my own here as well – I just need a chance at buying a place to do it.
Sincerely,
First Time Home Buyer
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