Program helps to finance home ownership

Sunday, July 1, 2007

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Thanks to hard work and generosity from a funding company, a landlord and a government loan program, Tom and Edith Bowerman are now proud owners of a home.

The Bowermans on Thursday closed on the house, located at 829 S. National Ave. They haven't moved in yet but are planning to do so in the coming weeks.

Their story is unique because of two main factors. First, they received the U. S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan when many residents know very little about the program. Second, their son, Dana Bowerman, has severe Multiple Sclerosis. The house is expected to help him out.

The Rural Development loan allowed the family to obtain the house without "paying a dime," said Ty Davis, branch manager with Gemini Funding Corp., based out of Coffeyville.

"This USDA loan has been around for awhile. It's just that people don't know about it," Davis said.

Davis helped the family acquire the RD guarantee home loan for the Bowermans. Davis said the family's plight with Dana touched him and he wanted to do everything he could to see to it that they got funding for the house.

Edith found out about the program through an ad on Community Channel 3.

At first she was skeptical and wanted to find out if it was legitimate. In March, she filled out the lengthy 20page application form. That's when they met Davis and Gemini.

Edith put off sending in the forms, because she was still skeptical of how exactly it would help acquire housing.

Tom said taking the initia-

See USDA, Page 3