Growth & Jobs | A place we can finally call home!

AFTER THREE decades of moving from house to house, while balancing the demands of entrepreneurship and raising five children, a lifelong dream of settling in a space they can truly call their own has finally come true for one hard-working couple. This was made possible with the support of the right financial institution.

Naomi Johnson*, the eldest of the couple’s five children, shared that despite setbacks over the years, her parents’ dream of home ownership never died, with her mother often reflecting on their countless attempts to purchase a home, especially when prices were much lower than they are today.

“They tried for over 30 years, and my mommy liked to say ‘From house a $300,000 we a try’, but they just could not break in, as the doors just kept being closed,” she said.

In 2024, a new opportunity arose when close friends who were migrating offered to sell their property to the Johnsons*. However, the couple and their children suffered another blow when Johnson’s mortgage application to acquire the fixer-upper was rejected by a financial institution after six months of navigating the process.

Although discouraged, Johnson said she was determined not to let her parent’s dream slip away again. She said she prayed, sought advice, and was guided to JN Bank, which not only gave her the approval, but whose expert employees made the loan process smooth and seamless.

“I was put in contact with Tanya Lindo [client relationship specialist at the JN Financial Centre in New Kingston], and without knowing the background of how I ended up at JN, she made it seem possible, and I was encouraged,” she said. “The overall service experience with Ms Lindo was impeccable. She always showed up and when we were about to hit another rock, she came with a solution for an existing concern that was there, and I believe that was the catalyst for us forging forward. For every person in the process that made this possible, including the entire legal and disbursement teams, our family says thank you.”

For Johnson, securing the mortgage wasn’t just about buying a home; it was about providing her parents, both approaching 60, with the stability they had longed for and a place to enjoy their golden years. She shared that the experience marks a change for the whole family and has even brought them closer together.

She acknowledged that had the application with JN Bank not been successful, her family would have possibly given up hope.

Johnson’s mortgage process with JN Bank took four months, from August to November 2024, due to some matters she needed to address which delayed the timeline. Nonetheless, there is comfort knowing that her parents have now settled into their new home. With the wait now behind them, they are now focused on making the space their own, and planning for home improvements to make it more comfortable and functional.

“I cannot tell you how deeply appreciative we are as a family for this. God really sent JN Bank in a time that our family was about to lose hope and we are so eternally grateful,” she shared. “Even though I’m the one at the forefront, with my name on the mortgage, my sisters and parents contributed alongside me and we’ve all made it our shared responsibility to ensure the mortgage is serviced. Without my sisters being there, managing this would be overwhelming.”

Describing the overall mortgage process, including the preparation of gathering documents and saving, as overwhelming, she emphasised that her family’s resilience played a key role in transforming her parents’ dream from ‘someday’ to ‘move-in day’. She hopes their story will serve as a lesson to others, as it shows that rejection is often just the opening of a door to new opportunities.

“We always focus on finding the lowest rates, but we should really consider the full experience, not just getting the mortgage, but the aftersale service as well. JN Bank has delivered on both fronts, and this experience has completely won me over. I’m fully sold,” Johnson added.

Agreeing that the process can be complex, Tanya Lindo, who guided Naomi through every step, underscored JN Bank’s commitment to helping individuals and families navigate the journey to home ownership. She said that as the foremost mortgage lender in the market, JN Bank has long been providing the support and resources needed to help people achieve what many consider the most significant financial goal of their lives.

“We remain dedicated to making this dream possible for as many people as we can, and we’re not only just providing financial support, but also guidance and reassurance. Home ownership is more than just acquiring property; it’s about building security and generational wealth, and we take pride in walking alongside our customers on their journey,” Lindo said.

*Names changed for security purposes