By Lauren Burden | September 10, 2026
As Ryan and Philip approached the one-year anniversary of moving into their home, they were reflecting on something they never imagined would happen so soon: becoming homeowners.
In recognition of National Homeownership Month in June, Habitat Frederick caught up with the couple to reflect on their first year of homeownership. They spoke to us not only about mortgage payments or home improvement projects, but about the freedom and stability they now had to build a life together.
A Path to Homeownership
Before becoming homeowners, Ryan and Philip rented a house in Frederick. Like many renters, they enjoyed having a place to call home, but there were limitations. Rent continued to rise, and every decision—from decorating to future plans—was tied to someone else’s property.
“We ultimately wanted to own a house,” Ryan said. “And this was the only way that we could actually own a house.”
With Philip working at a library and Ryan at a community college, they knew that traditional homeownership felt increasingly out of reach. At a time when rising housing costs have made it harder for many working individuals and families to buy a home, Ryan and Philip weren’t sure when, or if, homeownership would be possible for them.
“You’re not making a lot of money in a library,” Philip said with a laugh. “And with him working in a community college, it’s the same thing.”
Then, while scrolling through Facebook, they came across a Habitat homeownership advertisement. At the time, the condominium wasn’t even finished, but they could see the possibilities. “We basically bought the house studs only,” Ryan recalled.
The affordable, zero-interest mortgage made homeownership realistic for the first time. “And then this came along,” Philip said, “and we were like, well, a zero-interest loan—we can actually afford that.”
The home itself was another unexpected bonus. “I always dreamed of owning a historic house,” Philip said. “So, the fact that we can have a historic house with a new interior was a big selling point as well.”
Closing day was still vivid in their memories. “It kind of didn’t feel real,” Ryan said. After signing the final paperwork, Habitat staff walked back with them to their new home.
“I had never dreamed of being in my early 30s and owning a house. I didn’t think that would be possible.”
— Philip
The Freedom of Owning
Over the past year, they had discovered that one of the biggest surprises about homeownership wasn’t financial—it was emotional.
“Another thing that sort of surprised me was the sense of freedom that came with owning a house,” Philip said. “Now we’re in charge of everything. It’s no longer that we’re reporting back to somebody else.”
He smiled as he talked about decorating. “We get to be the ones that, if we do something, it’s on us. We can take all the pride in putting something up on the wall. There’s that freedom of being able to say, ‘This is our place.’” — Philip
That freedom had begun to show up in the everyday details of their life together. They were planning their first painting project, transforming their bedroom into a space that truly reflected them. They adopted a cat without worrying about a landlord’s approval. If the cat scratched something, they laughed about it.
“We’ll take care of it ourselves,” Philip said.
A Place to Gather
They had also found joy in opening their home to family and friends. Their previous rental had a tiny table that barely fit two people. Now, they hosted board game nights and welcomed six friends for Friendsgiving around Philip’s grandmother’s dining room table—a piece of furniture filled with family memories that finally had room to shine.
“It was nice because this was actually her table,” Philip said. “It was a little homage to her.”
Beyond the walls of their home, they had also found something they hadn’t expected: community. They had gotten to know their neighbors and felt that everyone was invested in making the neighborhood a welcoming place to live.
“It’s nice being somewhere where other people have that same sense of community as well,” Philip said.
As they looked ahead to their second year of homeownership, there were still rooms to paint, projects to tackle, and memories to make.
But if there was one piece of advice they would offer someone considering Habitat homeownership, it was this:
“It is not something that you are doing on your own,” Philip said. “It is a partnership. You’re working with Habitat, and Habitat is working with you on this journey. If you have questions, ask them. You can’t ask too many questions because you want to be informed, and Habitat often has the answers or can find them for you.”
Nearly one year after receiving the keys to their home, Ryan and Philip knew that homeownership had meant far more than having a place to live. It had given them a place to gather with friends, invest in their future, and become part of a community.