Meet DHC Homeowners

Michael Dixon

Michael Dixon first learned of Davidson Housing Coalition in March 2008 through Davidson’s local BB&T Bank, located at the corner of Main Street and Depot.  At that time, Michael was working for BB&T Bank as a Relationship Banker in Charlotte.  Soon thereafter he transferred to BB&T Bank in Mooresville.  As he made this job transition and began to see himself living in the Lake Norman area for the long-term, he felt ready to purchase a home of his own. 

Though he was seeking to settle down, Michael found it difficult to find a home he could afford that also matched his expectations for location and neighborhood quality.  During the course of his search, Michael realized that, in many cases, these factors limited his options.  He explains, “I looked all over Charlotte and the surrounding areas for a home in my price range,” and, before finding an affordable home in Davidson, “everything I found either needed a ton of work or was in an undesirable area.  I was looking for convenience, and a safe feeling location.”

After completing with DHC’s Homebuyer Education Program, which includes individual client counseling and a group all-day workshop, Michael moved into his new home in Davidson’s Summers Walk in mid-February 2009.  From his initial move-in to the present, Michael has enjoyed living in his home.  He describes the transition to homeownership as having been a relatively easy one; through his personal motivation to establish roots in the area and the preparation he received through DHC’s Homebuyer Education Program, he was prepared for the move.  According to Michael, the work was worth the payoff, “I love my home and the amenities of my neighborhood.”

When asked if he has any advice for those seeking or considering homeownership, Michael encourages people to take the next step:  “Go for it.  Owning my own home has been a very rewarding experience.  I love hosting and having people over.  So it gives me an opportunity to express that side of my personality in my own environment.” 

Stephanie Hanley

When Stephanie Hanley moved to the area in 2004 to be closer to her sister in Cornelius, she knew that she wanted to live in Davidson.  What attracted her to the town was its “concern with how Davidson grows and in what direction it grows.”  Stephanie explained, “There is a good deal of time and effort put forth to keep Davidson a family community, and that was very important to me.” 

As a legal assistant for a law firm in Charlotte, Davidson also would provide Stephanie a close enough route, via I-77, to commute to work.  In addition, she hoped that her daughter, Amaya, now six years-old, would be able to attend Davidson Elementary.  Though Stephanie had reservations about being able to find a home in Davidson that she could afford, she, for her own part, proved willing to invest time and effort into finding her place here. 

After learning about Davidson’s affordable housing from her mother, who had read about the town’s program in the newspaper, Stephanie picked up a brochure at Davidson Town Hall for Davidson Housing Coalition.  Stephanie participated in DHC’s Homebuyer Education program, attending a Homeownership Workshop and working one-on-one with DHC Housing and Financial Literacy Counselor Robin Brown.  While Stephanie had previously owned a home, she found the information provided in the Homeownership Workshop to be especially informative and applicable.

At roughly the same time, several residential developments in Davidson were just starting to break ground.  Knowing that she was looking for a single family home within walking distance of the heart of town, Stephanie stayed on constant alert as home sites in her price range came online.  She attributed good timing, luck, and Robin Brown’s assistance in finding a sign at the plot of her current Spring Street address announcing it as a coming affordable home site. 

While the site’s location fit what she was looking for, Stephanie also found its builder, Rodney Graham of John Marshall Custom Homes, Inc., willing to help the home match her vision of it.  Graham provided a plan for the home’s design but also allowed certain flexibilities throughout the building process, working in small details like a folding casement kitchen window and custom tiles to surround the fireplace.  “The quality and craftsmanship of my home is amazing,” Stephanie noted.

Stephanie closed on the home on December 31, 2008, and she and Amaya moved in shortly thereafter. The two marked their first full weekend in their new home by walking to Toast, a restaurant nestled in downtown Davidson, for breakfast, seeing many children and families like themselves as they came to and from the meal.  April marks their fourth month living in the home, and both continue to enjoy spending time outside and in the community, taking walks along the greenway or into downtown.  Amaya likes to ride her bike in the neighborhood and loves the park next to Davidson Elementary. 

When asked if she had any advice for those seeking or considering homeownership, Stephanie first identified the need for people to approach affordable housing with an open mind.  “I think a lot of people have the wrong impression of what the affordable housing program is about.  It is in place to assist a wide range of people who desire to live in Davidson, but, due to the high price point of its homes, would not be able to otherwise.”

Stephanie explained that she anticipates helping to change this perception:  “In the future I definitely will direct people to Davidson Housing Coalition.  I can’t say enough about my home - its quality, construction and details are all amazing.”  If approached by friends or acquaintances considering homeownership in Davidson, “I would advise those thinking about purchasing a home to pursue what you’re looking for - your dream - because it is attainable here.”

Story and Photo by Nancy Waldrop

Angie Phillips

Angie Phillips still vividly recalls the afternoon when a casual chat in early 2001 put her on the path to reach her dreams. As a young teacher at Cornelius Elementary School, she was struggling to establish roots in the community through home ownership. "What can you buy around here on a teacher's salary?" she lamented. "The least expensive thing I could find was $135,000."

A friend overheard her complaint and offered an answer. Angie took her advice and contacted the Davidson Housing Coalition, which was just beginning to work with local developers to meet new town requirements that 12.5 percent of homes in subdivisions meet affordable housing standards.

A year later, on January 18, 2002, Angie moved into one of the first completed homes in Saussy Burbank's Deer Park neighborhood. The purchase price of $96,000 included just the house, and not the land. In addition, DHC arranged a $10,000 grant. "I ended up with a mortgage of $515 a month, which was cheaper than my rent," Angie recalled.

She felt safe in the cozy cottage community, had a short commute to work, and loved being close enough to walk uptown. And that was just the beginning of a lot of good things in her life. Angie married her husband, Chris, two years later, and their son, Holden, was born 20 months ago.

Though they adored the 1,400-square-foot Deer Park house, it began to squeeze Chris's home office and their plans for more children. The equity they built in it allowed Chris and Angie to buy on their own a larger home this summer elsewhere in Davidson. Angie insisted on remaining within the public school boundaries because she wants their children to enjoy an excellent education.

"The nice thing about the DHC is that it's based on helping people," Angie said. And now she's helping DHC back. She joined the organization's board of directors recently and has been offering advice to new potential homeowners based on her own experiences.

"DHC has been a great partner to me," Angie said. "My only regret is that we moved out of Deer Park before the new Harris Teeter opened. How perfect it would have been to put Holden in the wagon and walk over there to get groceries!"

Story and Photo by Bill Giduz

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