A house can be just a building you inhabit that gives you sanctuary from the elements and gives relief from all the trials of life. However, a home is a sanctuary where you find solace and comfort every time you walk through the door. A home is a place where you stack you dreams, the dreams of you children and your family and a place where you can spend a peaceful retirement in future. When life seems impossible, a place where a family is built and individuals find safety and encouragement. A home is where families gather and share memorable moments that we carry through a lifetime. African Immigrant families are often torn from their families or relations and often seek a place where they can be accepted, loved and establish new families and relational ties. Given the close knit fabric of African societies, a desire to find a place where we are cherished and where we feel at ‘home’ always comes as second nature. Therefore, for many Africans in the Diaspora, the desire to own a house in their adopted counties is a dream come true because it gives them a chance to rebuild their lives and have new successful familial ties with their kin. It also offers a sense of comfort and security for the uncertain future.
Owning a home is a core component in establishing and living the American dream. It drives the ambition of African immigrants and it is an important goal that greatly influences how they organize their finances, conduct their business and their personal lives. To many immigrants in a new country, the modalities of buying a house are complex and unknown. The laws, processes and rules are often difficult and many African immigrants find it to be a daunting task and a farfetched dream when they think of buying a house and transforming it into a home for their families. Although buying property or a house in the United States is common, it comes with more red tape than renting especially to African immigrants. According to a 2010 census, only 40% of foreign born US citizens are homeowners (Simons, 2019). This is because of structural discrimination against immigrants because their financial profiles are viewed as high risk by loan services. Moreover, the language and legal requirements make it difficult for African expatriates to deal with the huge amount of paperwork. This article will tackle the steps through which an African immigrant in the United States can follow to own a home.
Assess Your Finances First
Before you begin your quest to purchase your suitable home, firstly, prospective homeowners should consider their finances, the size of their family, their suitable neighborhood and the features of their future home. This process involves a lot of planning and budgeting that will guide the house hunting process in future. For some families, finding the right neighborhood with familiar surroundings, certain social amenities like schools and security is very important. Then, it is vital to assess your current assets, the kind of home you can afford and what compromises you are willing to make. Moreover, find the price estimates of different areas, crime statistics and school information of the area to help you decide on the perfect area for you and your family to live in.
