Dominique Crawford had started the process of becoming a homeowner. Upset that her landlord allowed many maintenance issues to go unrepaired and raised her apartment rent by 18%, she decided she didn’t have to take it anymore. She wanted more for her two boys, ages 2 and 12 years old. She did a quick credit check and she found that she had a good credit score. Then she was able to get a loan approved for a mortgage. So, then the question was how would she come up with the down payment and closing cost needed to purchase a home. “A friend just randomly asked me if I was going to the Prince George's County Housing Fair,” says Dominique. “I thought why not, I could probably get some good information there. When I arrived, I entered for a chance to win up to $10,000 for the down payment and closing cost for your first home. I never thought I would win!”
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​Dominique closed on her first home in October and hosted her first Thanksgiving in her new home last week for nine of her relatives. “I was able to put the leaf in my dining room table to expand the table. It’s the first time I’ve been able to use it since I purchased the dining room set. 

I also brought two more chairs. I’m so happy about this and my children are too.” She brought a four bedroom townhouse in Temple Hills, MD. It has two full baths, two half baths and a back yard for her two-year-old to play outside. She rented her first apartment in the same area several years ago so she was very familiar with the community and liked the peace and quiet the neighborhood offered.
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​ “We are delighted we can assist people like Ms. Crawford with the purchase of her first home,” said Eric C. Brown, Director of the Prince George's County Department of Housing and Community Development. “We have money in our Pathway to Purchase program for even more eligible homeowners. Welcome to Prince George's County Ms. Crawford!”
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​Pathway to Purchase offers first-time home buyers up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Home buyers can purchase a home anywhere in Prince George's County. Eligible residential properties include: new construction, resale, short sales and foreclosures.
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​ Pathway to Purchase is a 0% interest loan program that must be paid back when the home is sold, transferred or ceases to be the primary residence of the buyer(s). However, the loan repayment has a 10% decrease per year and after 10 years, it is forgiven and the lien is released.
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​ For information on the Pathway to Purchase Program, please call (301) 883-5456 or visit the website: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2598/Pathway-to-Purchase
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