Growing up near Victoria, Stephanie Forrer drove by a yellow house with a front porch.
She loved that little yellow house on the corner and dreamed of woning one just like it.
After returning to the area as an adult, Stephanie and her two teenaged children lived
in a two-bedroom apartment where she shared both a room and a bed with her daughter.
"All of the homes were either old and run down, or so expensive that I thought there was
no way I could ever afford a mortgage payment," she said.
Through a series of fortunate coincidences, Stephanie found a way. She had a conversation
with local realtor Jan Sinnen, who told Stephanie and her father about a new program in Chaska
that was helping people of moderate means buy their own "permanently affordable" home.
They talked with Amanda Smoot at the Carver County HRA, and Bremer Bank and then with Mary
Welch, executive director, Chaska Community Land Trust.
Five months after that first conversation, Stephanie moved into her first home, the home of
her dreams - a yellow house, with white trim and a front porch.
"Everything just fell into place. I found the right person to tell me about the Land Trust
program, the right people to help me figure out the financing and the best people in Chaska
to make my dreams come true," Stephanie said.
"This is a real 'poor to rich' story. I went from having no place to live two years ago to owning
my own home in a great neighborhood. I learned to not give up; that people will go to bat for me
and that I am no less of a homeowner than anyone else."
Stephanie's house payment on her "dream home" is a mere $7 more month than her apartment rent.
She says "with utilities, it costs me an extra $150 to own a house. I bought my own washer and dryer
and other appliances, too, and I got my own bed back!"
"I used to be a nameless, faceless renter putting quarters into the washing machine.
Now I have my kids, my own house and a community that welcomes us. It feels great to be home."
"I feel like Cinderella... all of my dreams have com true."
"I love my new home. And I love Chaska. I am going to live here forever."
Stephanie Forrer, Chaska Community Land Trust homeowner