Avonlea and William “Buck” Ide, along with their young son, beamed as they received the keys to their new Benton City home.

“We’re still shocked that we’re having a home built for us, for our brand new family,” Avonlea Ide said in a news release. “This home is not just going to be a house for ourselves – we intend for blessings to flow out into our community just as our community has blessed us.”

The family moved into the home thanks to the nonprofit First Story, which provides affordable homeownership opportunities to Northwest families making 80% or below the area median.

First Story held a home dedication ceremony Oct. 30 at the home at 1465 10th St. in the River North community.

For first-time homebuyers

Through partnerships with its founder, Hayden Homes, and industry partners like Parr Lumber, along with the financial support of a network of donors, First Story is able to build and provide new or refurbished homes to first-time homebuyers through a zero-down, zero-interest, 30-year mortgage.

The Ides learned about First Story’s homeownership program when Buck Ide’s sister sent them a link. They applied and encouraged others to as well. Avonlea Ide said she knows others who began taking action in their own lives to reduce their debt after learning that it would help them qualify for a First Story home.

A “raise the wall” event for their new home was held June 26. The couple had been saving for a home since they got married four years ago, but couldn’t find one in their price range.

Building a future

“It feels like we won the lottery,” Buck Ide said in a June statement. “We had been hoping to find something in the $300,000 range but then interest rates went through the roof and even in the most rural areas, it was just unaffordable. Receiving this home means we will have a solid financial base on which to build our future.”

“Avonlea and Buck are committed to their community, and we are proud to support them in becoming homeowners so that they can thrive and focus on supporting those around them,” said Claire Duncan, executive director of First Story, in a statement. “We are grateful to bring together partners who want to give individuals a hand up to homeownership that puts them on a path toward asset-building, financial stability and economic mobility. Together, we are committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through affordable homeownership.”

To date, First Story has helped 118 families become homeowners.

Go to: firststory.org.