The Irbys were finalists in our 2017 #MyAlabamaHome selfie contest. They bought their home in Huntsville using AHFA's Step Up program. Juan said, "I had always wanted to build my own home. That's been my dream since I was young. Lo and behold, this is it!" After hearing about Step Up from their lender, Alexandrea said, "I started researching it, and saw people who have used the program and saw you can have a nice home...live in a neighborhood you want, and have a new home."  

Watch more of their Step Up Success Story below:

Erika Westcott has been in the mortgage business for 21 years, and next year will celebrate her 20th anniversary with First Federal Bank. The Auburn University graduate and mom to three served as the affiliate director for the Northeast Region of Alabama Association of Realtors for six years, was honored as the Etowah-Cherokee County Association of Realtors' Affiliate of the Year in 2002, and has been a Top 10 Producer for First Federal Mortgage for the last four years.

 

Q: How long have you worked with AHFA's homeownership programs?

A: I believe you all introduced us to the Step Up program when it first rolled out in 2005. We were Etowah County's first AHFA lender.

 

Q: What do you think is the greatest benefit of AHFA programs?

A: The greatest benefit I've seen is borrowers being able to utilize the down payment option for ANY home in ANY area. Having higher income limits than other programs has also helped several of my buyers take advantage of low down payment options. I love how the Mortgage Credit Certificate allows a buyer to afford more home by taking advantage of the tax credit during the year. I also love the fact that the loans are serviced in Alabama, which is a comfort to buyers when it comes to loan servicing. AHFA loans have been a large part of our company's portfolio for many years, and I feel it has set us apart from competition in our area (not to mention the staff at AHFA is top notch)! AHFA's down payment assistance products have been a great contributor to First Federal's success in Etowah and surrounding counties. These products have held true over 10 years, and we love working with AHFA. I have agents that refer buyers here specifically for Step Up loans.

 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I feel my duty as a loan officer is to educate. I love to explain the process to first-time buyers and educate them on what is going to happen. I am a people person. I LOVE people...meeting them, talking to them, singing to them (just kidding). This career has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from all walks of life. I am now in the phase of life where I am making mortgage loans to people I babysat, coached on swim team, taught gymnastics to, etc. It is so neat to see people I knew as children growing up and becoming homeowners. That is the part that is most rewarding to me. 

In addition, a groundbreaking celebration was held for Hidden Hills Trace in Phenix City on November 9. Hidden Hills received nearly $1.13 million in 2016 HOME funds and, when complete, will provide 84 new housing units for families in the area.

ServiSolutions is preparing Year-End Statements (also known as IRS Form 1098) for all servicing customers for income tax reporting purposes. This statement includes the total amounts of interest paid and property taxes paid from your escrow account (if you have one) for the entire year.

 

If you register by December 25, you can view, print and download your statements online and will not have to wait for a paper copy to be mailed to you. This online option is free, secure, and reduces clutter.

 

Sign up for your online Form 1098 by logging into your  Customer CareNet (CCN) account and selecting Statements and Documents. You can then select Year-End Statements and click the "Change My IRS Form 1098 Electronic Consent" button.

 

Check the box next to the statement, "I wish to access my IRS Form 1098 electronically. I understand that I will no longer receive a paper copy." Click submit.

 

You'll then see a message confirming the change, and an email will be sent to the email address on file also confirming this change.

 

If you are registered for Online Year-End Statements, you will receive an email notification when your statement is available. If you receive your statement by mail, we will mail it to you by January 31, 2018. In addition, you can obtain your paid interest and taxes totals for the year after January 7, 2018, by logging into your CCN account.

 

You may also receive one or more of the following Form 1099s from us: