For 10 years, I have paid rent responsibly in the only home my children have ever known.

Now it is being sold.

I can afford the mortgage. I just need help with the upfront cost to prevent my kids from being uprooted.

Read the full story below.

Help Me Buy the Only Home My Kids Have Ever Known

After 10 years in this home, I was recently given short notice that my landlord intends to sell the property.

The broker has completed a valuation and brought forward a target price of $415,000.

Like many renters, I prepare each year for the possibility of a rent increase. What I was not preparing for was the need to fund a full down payment and closing costs on short notice.

This house is not just a rental. It is the only home my children have known.

We have truly lived here. We have grown here. Our pets have come into our lives in this house, and we have said goodbye to some of them here too. Like any long-term home, it carries our history. We know its quirks. We know the way the light falls in the afternoon. It may not be flashy, but it is ours in every way that matters.

Our little block in East Portland is not much to look at from the outside. But it is filled with good families. We know our neighbors. We look out for them, and they look out for us. There is a quiet kind of stability here that you do not notice until you imagine losing it.

I am a single father with stable employment and strong credit. I am actively speaking with lenders and, based on current estimates, I qualify for financing at this price point.

The estimated monthly mortgage payment is within my means.

If you live in the Portland Metro Area, you know that housing costs here are high. A mortgage payment on a modest three-bedroom home is often comparable to what families are already paying to rent. In some cases, most, the rent is even more.

If my children and I were forced to move, we would still face first and last month’s rent, deposits, application fees, moving trucks, boxes, and time off work. When you consider those costs together, relocating represents a nearly identical financial burden. It feels unnecessary when we are already here, have built our lives here, and have paid rent on time for 10 years.

Financially, moving does not solve the problem.

It simply uproots my children from the only home they have known.

The obstacle is not affordability of the loan.

The obstacle is the upfront capital and underwriting reserve requirements on short notice.

I am not without savings. I have earnest money and personal funds set aside toward this purchase. I simply do not have enough liquid capital to meet the full closing and reserve requirements within the timeline required.

The owner has indicated openness to selling to me before listing the property publicly. That opportunity is what makes this moment critical. Once listed on the open market in a competitive environment, the likelihood of competing with investor buyers increases significantly. Acting before listing gives my children the best chance at staying in their home.

Financial Breakdown and Underwriting Requirements

Based on a written closing estimate dated February 19, 2026, the projected amount due at closing is approximately $24,438. This includes:

• $12,450 down payment

• $4,073 in settlement charges

• $6,405 in prepaid taxes, insurance, and escrow reserves

• $1,509 in discount points

These figures are estimates and may adjust slightly during underwriting.

In addition to closing funds, mortgage underwriting requires documented cash reserves to remain in the bank after closing. Lenders verify source of funds, review bank statements, and may require documentation for gifted contributions.

Lenders allow for gifted funds toward a down payment. Many people rely on family to help bridge that gap.

Like so many people, I do not have a family of financial means to rely on.

What I do have is a community. A strong, beautiful community of friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I have seen people in this community meet others where they are, within their means, to help them move forward.

This is the time I am calling on my community.

I am asking for help bridging the gap between what I have responsibly saved and what is required upfront to secure this home.

To move forward with the purchase and satisfy closing and reserve requirements, I am seeking to raise $30,000.

This support would allow me to continue the financial responsibility I have maintained for the past 10 years, rather than starting over somewhere else under nearly identical costs.

If the final required amount is lower than projected, or if more is raised than ultimately needed to close, any additional funds will be immediately applied directly to the property, either toward reducing the loan principal or necessary home-related costs.

These funds will not be used for anything unrelated to securing and stabilizing this home.

Documentation and Transparency

Mortgage underwriting requires that gifted funds be properly documented.

If you choose to donate, it would help if you include the phrase:

“This is a gift”

in your donation comment.

Depending on final loan requirements and the size of individual contributions, some donors may be asked to complete a simple gift letter confirming that the funds are a gift and do not require repayment. If that becomes necessary, I will provide a clear template.

Correspondence related specifically to home purchase documentation or If you have questions or need to coordinate documentation, please reach out directly through the GoFundMe messaging system.

This campaign will be reviewed with my loan officer to ensure all documentation meets underwriting standards.

A Small Ask

If this campaign reached 30,000 people and each person gave just $1, the goal would be met.

That may sound simple, but it reflects something real. Small contributions add up.

If you are not in a position to give much, even $1 matters. And if you cannot give at all, sharing this campaign on one social platform helps more than you know.

This only works if people participate.

I am not trying to upgrade.

I am not trying to flip.

I am trying to stay.

If you are willing to help me secure this home for my children before it goes to the open market, I am deeply grateful.