Mary Scott-Taylor, the first Habitat homeowner to reside in Tarpon Springs, paid off her 25-year mortgage note three years early.
CLEARWATER – Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties held a mortgage burning ceremony at its administrative headquarters in Clearwater last month. Habitat homeowner Mary Scott-Taylor, a Tarpon Springs resident, paid off her 25-year mortgage note three years early.
She signed for her home on Jan. 31, 2001.
“I’m just thankful and grateful,” said Scott-Taylor, a mom of three, “just to see my kids grow up in a backyard and roll around in the grass and playing, it was amazing.”
“We’ve had only seven foreclosures in the history of our program (823 homes),” said Habitat President & CEO Mike Sutton. “That really speaks to the information our homeowners learn in the program and their changed behaviors that will lead to a mortgage that will one day be paid off.”
Scott-Taylor, the first Habitat homeowner to reside in Tarpon Springs, called this moment “icing on the cake” as she went through breast cancer in recent years. This celebration came ahead of June, which is National Homeownership Month. Habitat will welcome eight families to their new homes during Homeownership Month.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 800 homeowner partners since 1985. Over the last 12 months, Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco completed more new homes than any other affiliate in the country – earning a ranking of #1 producing affiliate in the network.
Volunteers and future homeowners construct energy-efficient homes, and candidates purchase the house with a zero percent interest mortgage upon completing the program. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of the area median income.
Candidates must demonstrate the need for adequate shelter, the ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and the willingness to partner with Habitat to complete a robust homebuyer education curriculum and invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, call (727) 536-4755 or visit www.habitatpwp.org.
