Help us buy our first home and stay in our town

Hello, we’re Kara and Xavier, (and penny) a hardworking couple (and doggo) who have called Poultney, VT home for 5 years (2 in penny's case)

Kara grew up in Poultney, and graduated from Poultney High. She left vermont to see more of the country and lived out west for several years. She and Xavier met in Reno NV, fell hard for eachother and have been together since. When she returned to Vermont after her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis, Xavier moved the 3600 miles with her. Shortly after losing her mother, she and her siblings also lost their father.

Xavier stood by them all and has embraced the town and community, proudly considering it to be home. He is continuing his education locally, pursuing coursework and opportunities to further his career right here in Vermont. By staying and growing roots, he’s choosing to embrace Vermont as his forever home, thousands of miles from any family, and to invest in a future built here. We both have intentions of living a long life together in this beautiful place.

We’re reaching out because we’ve found a place we love—our current home—and a rare opportunity to purchase it has presented itself. We’re seeking donations to raise a substantial down payment to secure a mortgage and keep our family rooted in the community we have come to truly love.

We have some of what we need in savings, but without a more substantial downpayment, we fear the payments will exceed what we can manage confidently.

Our Situation

We have lived in this home for several years and have built a life and family here. Initially when we relocated to Poultney we had hoped to buy our first home somewhere in the area, but upon finding our current space, we fell so in love with it that we decided to rent and had hoped to do so for many years to come.

This is not just a house to us—it’s where we’ve invested our time, money, and care. Where we have experienced heartbreak and loss, as well as hope for a future.

The current owner is looking to sell the home we live in but has expressed an openness and preference in selling to us. He is working with us in hopes that this is achievable.

The biggest hurdle in this process is the time frame in which we would need to secure funding. He intends to put it on the market in under a month if we aren't able to present a viable offer.

We are eligible for a loan which would make this purchase possible, but we need a down payment to secure financing. We have some savings but not what we need to secure a loan.

The house includes two rental units that already have tenants with a solid rental history. They are people we care about and would hate to see pushed out and forced to relocate.

One unit currently houses a dear friend and small business owner who uprooted her life to pursue independence for her and a future for her daughter here in Vermont. She is quickly becoming a valued community member and positive addition to our town. Her daughter just started first grade at Poultney elementary.

By purchasing the home, we would be securing a stable home for them as well, something we would be honored to do, and feel contributes greatly to this town and community.

The rental income from the 2 units would help cover the mortgage payments, making this a sustainable path to homeownership.

This home is in the town Kara grew up in, and we would love to contribute to the town through taxes while ensuring that a local family remains—rather than seeing a non-local investor buy up more property.

We are hardworking, dedicated people with stable incomes who work in the area and have for some time.

We’re heartbroken at the prospect of being uprooted once again and potentially forced to move away due to this unexpected opportunity’s uncertainty.

Why We Need Your Help

A larger down payment increases our chances of securing a favorable mortgage and keeps the monthly payments manageable.

By staying in the town, we’ll continue to contribute to the local economy, support schools, and invest in community initiatives.

Your support will directly fund the down payment, not operating costs or unrelated expenses.

How Your Donation Will Be Used

-Down payment toward the purchase price: ($10,000 - $50,000)

-Closing costs and fees

($?)

What If We Don’t Reach the Goal?

If we don’t reach the full goal, any funds raised will still go toward the down payment and related closing costs, and we’ll update you on how far it helped and what remaining steps look like. We’re committed to transparency and will provide regular progress updates.

What If We exceed our goal?

Boy, wouldnt that be something!

Any excess donations would be allocated toward needed renovation to improve the property for all who call it home!

About Us

Names: Kara Tracey and Xavier Wallace

Town: Poultney, Vermont

Employment: We are both employed at the Dorset Field Club and have been for several years.

Family: The Tracey family has been in Poultney for generations. Karas father Wayne was the superintendent of public works for the town of Poultney before his passing, and dedicated 40 years to the town.

Being close to her siblings again has meant everything to her and she doesn't want to have to leave them again.

Why this matters: We want to stay in our community, support local schools and services, and ensure long-term stability for our family. Xavier’s commitment to continuing his education locally underscores our dedication to building a future here in Vermont, embracing it as our new home.

Updates and Gratitude

We’ll post regular updates with:

Progress toward the down payment

Milestones (offer made, inspection, closing)

Community impact and future plans

Personal stories of our journey and gratitude for your support

How You Can Help

Donate: Every amount brings us closer to our goal, and means the WORLD to us.

Share: If you can’t donate, please share this page with friends, family, coworkers, and local community members.

Offer: If you’re aware of local resources, lenders who support first-time buyers, or down-payment assistance programs, we’d love to hear suggestions.

Transparency and Accountability

We will provide detailed, frequent updates on how funds are used.

Any funds raised beyond the down payment will be handled with careful consideration and communicated clearly to supporters.

We are humbly hoping for a minor miracle with your support. Please help this young family plant deep roots in a town and community that means so much to us.

It's a big dream, but big dreams are worth chasing.

Thank you for reading.