Customer Success

“I don’t even have words for the gratitude I feel – thank you, thank you. When you have an opportunity like this, it really makes a profound impact on your life,” said Kricket Caffery in a recent Zoom call.

Kricket had a long journey to homeownership. Over the years, serving as a Marine in Japan, experiencing several of her family and friends unexpectedly passing away, and a divorce, she was alone and had to do something to stay motivated in life. Kricket says, “in the Marines, ‘Pain is temporary, and pride is forever, and I truly believe that.”

She started with building a solid financial foundation by taking $500 of her savings to start a business related to circus classes. She held workshops and taught people from the ages 8 – 62 how to walk on stilts and make stilts using power tools. Kricket says the circus brings joy and love to the world and helps fight depression. She found an opportunity as there were not many places selling circus equipment, so she started making and selling stilts, costumes, and art online.

As a resident of Portland, the frequent rent increases caused her to move often. Stability was also essential to improving her health, which was affected while serving in the Marines. With the goals of improving her personal health, financial well-being, and expanding her business, she set a goal to find a new home in Oregon and on the west side of Interstate 5.

She worked to get a Veterans’s Administration (VA) loan, but she needed a little more income than she received with her business to qualify. One of the eligibility requirements for the loan also meant that she had to establish employment history in addition to working for her own business. She researched communities and potential employment opportunities. She found a local company near where she wanted to buy her home that could use her skills and made a presentation to them. They hired her on the spot. But this new part-time job also meant making some sacrifices to achieve her future goal. She took a cut in pay, and each week, she left her friends and family to drive four hours from Portland to Bandon and camped during the week in veteran supported campsites.

Finally, she qualified for a $135k VA loan, found a tiny home in Lakeside, an unincorporated community in Coos County at the right price, and coincidently, it was built on stilts! The home could not have been more perfect for her as it also included a more expansive shop than the house itself; perfect for expanding her business. “I cried the day I got my keys. I always worked and nothing was never handed to me, but I feel like I have received a gift. It was eye-opening – it showed me that every step we take in our lives matters.”