For four hours a day, three days a week, as Michael sat through dialysis, he was determined: Determined to stay healthy and receive a kidney transplant so he could keep living for himself and his family.

“I did everything my doctors asked me to do,” the Philadelphian said. “For seven years, I came to my dialysis appointments. I kept my phosphorus levels at a safe place. I took my medication. That level of commitment paid off, because I was able to get a transplant.”

It’s the same level of commitment Michael said he applied to buying his forever home with his wife, Michelle. 

“We had to grind to get the funds for this house,” Michael said. “I contrast that with my kidney transplant because both took commitment, and I did everything I was asked to do.”

The first stop on their home buying journey: Clarifi, a nonprofit that helped them get their finances on track and prepare for the big purchase.

Working with their Clarifi counselor, the couple created an action plan to improve their credit scores and debt-to-income ratio, and they determined an affordable mortgage and downpayment amount.

“Our counselor got us straight,” Michael said. “He was thorough with our budget, right down to a bag of potato chips, because he saw our commitment.”

They watched as their credit scores grew – Michael even reached the “800 club”. Over the next few years, they saved diligently, eventually meeting the financial requirements they needed to qualify for a mortgage and begin house hunting.

Michael and Michelle were looking for somewhat of a unicorn: A single family home in Philadelphia, a city known for its rowhouses.

But one night, after Michael had fallen asleep, Michelle was perusing properties online when she found it: their standalone unicorn. The stone home was built in the 1950’s and recently renovated. 

They toured it the next evening and put in a bid the following day. Four years after their first appointment with Clarifi–after careful financial planning and staying on track with their counselor–the couple closed on their forever home in June 2023. 

Two years later, they are enjoying their home while building equity. Despite “more grass than we anticipated,” Michael said jokingly, the home is “great for us.” They especially love the new appliances, spacious layout, front porch and backyard.

“We are living testament that working hard and saving money works,” Michael said, adding, “But you got to stay committed.”