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HomeSight News, News
August 18, 2025August 19, 2025 HomeSight

U-lex FAQs

U-lex faqS

Our staff answers the seven most common questions they get about U-lex Housing Cooperative.

What is a housing cooperative?

A housing cooperative, or co-op, is a type of residential community (common in east coast cities like New York) where members collectively own and manage the property. As a member, you own a share in the cooperative corporation, which grants you the right to live in a specific unit.

WHAT IS A LIMITED EQUITY CO-OP?

A limited equity co-op limits or caps the amount of equity (or ownership stake) that members can accumulate. U-lex is capped at 2% appreciation each year.

WHAT ARE THE BUYER QUALIFICATIONS FOR U-LEX?

  • Income: Buyers must earn less than 80% of Seattle’s Area Median Income (AMI) and at or above 50% AMI.
  • First-Time Buyer: Buyers must be first-time home buyers or have not owned a residence in the past three years.
  • Owner Occupancy: Buyers must live in the unit as their primary residence.

WHAT ARE MY TOTAL MONTHLY COSTS?

As a coop member you are responsible for the share price – this is comparable to a mortgage payment on a condo or house – and a monthly carrying charge. Think of the carrying charge as the co-op version of a homeownership association (HOA) fee.

If you are seeking a loan for the share price, you will need to add the monthly principal and loan’s Interest costs to get to your monthly payment.

Let’s use an example: Unit #115, a 1BR/1Bath:

$269 Share Price (loan principal & interest on a $52,932 loan: like a mortgage loan)

+ $1,671 Carrying Charge (like an HOA fee)

= $1,940 Total Monthly Home Costs

CAN I HAVE A ROOMMATE? CAN I SUBLET MY UNIT?

The owner can have a roommate but cannot sublet. The unit must be occupied by the owner. In special circumstances, the co-op board may approve an exception, but this would be temporary because it would put the co-op’s property tax exemption in jeopardy.

WHEN CAN I MOVE IN?

Construction begins November 3, 2025, and will take 18 months. Our anticipated completion date is April 15, 2026.

WHEN WILL I HAVE TO PROVIDE MY UPDATED FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION?

You will have to provide updated financial information 120 days before closing. If we achieve Certificate of Occupancy by April 15, 2027, our counseling team will ‎contact you before Wednesday‎, ‎December‎ ‎16‎, ‎2026 to update your financial records and do another soft credit pull.

If you seek a share loan through Verity Credit Union, your loan officer will contact you 60 days before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued to finalize the loan.

U-lex Cooperative: Visual concept of the future building design
Example floor plan of a 1-bedroom unit,
Example floor plan of a 3-bedroom unit
HomeSight News, News
June 18, 2025 HomeSight

Meet HomeSights new board President Rebecca Bryant

Meet HomeSights new board President Rebecca Bryant

A Colorado native, political insider and avid surfer, Bryant believes HomeSight “is on the front lines” in housing.

When your father is an Antarctic explorer and both your parents are Smithsonian scientists, a strong sense of adventure and curiosity about the world might be genetic. Raised in a one-room cabin close to Red Rocks, Colorado, Rebecca Bryant shared her family’s sense of curiosity and adventure.

But law, not science, captured her Interest. Bryant said she wanted to work in Congress from a young age and first set her sights on a career in law. “I’ve always believed democracy can work well,” said Bryant. “I believe policy should help people no matter how they started in life.”

A political science major in college, Bryant’s internship at the USO in Washington, DC prepared her for a job on the staff of Washington state’s 9th District Rep. Adam Smith.

During her 10 years working for Smith, her boss was the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. Bryant says: “I was working with the Pentagon staff planning trips for my boss to Afghanistan, then supporting the committee staff in the ongoing priority of the Congressman’s to close Guantanamo.” Bryant compares her tenure working for Smith to the television show The West Wing. “I started as Charlie,” a young aide on the show, she said. “And ended as CJ,” the communications director.

Bryant got to know HomeSight while running the Congressman’s reelection campaign from the 9th district office, the district where HomeSight is based. “I met [HomeSight founder] Tony To while planning the first Taste of the Ninth event, the now annual event Congressman Smith holds to celebrate the diverse communities of the 9th Congressional District,” Bryant recalled. After moving back to Washington, DC in 2014, Bryant was fortunate to see To when he visited the “other Washington” to advocate for affordable housing policy and funding and quickly reconnected with To and Homesight when she moved home to Seattle in 2019.

“I saw HomeSight doing such good work and embodying everything the 9th district is,” said Bryant. “Anytime I hear about someone buying a home, I picture each of those families. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to own their home no matter what circumstances they were born into. Not that long ago, Seattle had redlining. HomeSight is such a great example of undoing historical wrongs.”

Bryant is also involved in the community development side of HomeSight’s work. “That work is in my personal DNA, but I didn’t know as much about it until I joined the board,” Bryant said.

Bryant joined the board in 2020. She now works in government affairs at Fred Hutch but keeps in touch with her old colleagues in the 9thdistrict office, recently inviting them to join her for lunch during HomeSight’s Plate of Nations restaurant promotion event this spring. 

“HomeSight is in a special place right now,” said Bryant. “We’re on the front lines of keeping people in homes, and making sure people have homes. Now, and over the next couple of years, this work matters more than ever.”

HomeSight News, News
May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 HomeSight

Congratulations, Pat Montgomery, for 30 years of creating new homeowners!

Congratulations, Pat Montgomery, for 30 years of creating new homeowners!

A picture of Pat Montgomery smiling

Pat Montgomery, one of HomeSight’s three HUD-certified counselors, has been working at HomeSight for 30 years, and became a full member of the mortgage lending counseling team around 17 years ago.

When Pat stepped into the housing counselor role, she found she was helping her own neighbors. “I lived in the community where I worked,” said Pat. “Back then, more families, and lower-income families, could afford houses. It’s gotten harder for people, and we’ve got more and more people really wanting to buy.”​

Pat said the HUD certification training was rigorous and the test was daunting. “There are six steps, and hardly anybody passes the first time,” she said. But the certification is worth it, she said, because “it benefits our clients so much, and helps us help them better.”​

Pat and her colleagues “help people become great homeowners. I know the people we serve are going to be more aware. They’re not going to be silly and charge everything, they’re going to keep their debt low, and they’re going to have good savings. That’s a big deal when you’re buying a house in our area.” ​

Pat said she wishes she “had a HomeSight” before she bought her house. She enjoys helping people “overcome barriers, like a low credit score or high credit card debt,” and helping people create and achieve a plan that gets them to homeownership. ​ ​

“Start to finish, we’ve got them covered and ready to send off to lending,” said Pat. It’s a great thing to see. HomeSight has done so much for the community.”​

HomeSight News, News
May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 HomeSight

Homeownership From One Generation to the Next: A HomeSight homeowner brought her son to learn about U-lex cooperative housing — and helped him buy his first home.

“Homeownership has opened doors for building generational wealth. It’s an investment in my family’s future,” said Kenya Bannister.

Kenya Bannister bought her first home through HomeSight. This spring, when she learned HomeSight was building a new housing cooperative, U-lex @Othello Square, she encouraged her now-grown son to learn more and apply.

“Homeownership has been life-changing for me,” said Bannister. “It’s given my family a stable and secure place to grow while also helping us build financial equity for the future. Emotionally, homeownership has brought pride, peace of mind, and the joy of creating lasting memories in a space that’s truly ours.”

Bannister wanted her grown son to have the same experience for his family. Intrigued by the “affordable buy-in, monthly cost, and convenience,” of U-lex, Bannister and her son attended an U-lex Meet and Greet.

At the session, Bannister was pleased to learn her family qualified for U-lex. Bannister said she felt well prepared to jump on the opportunity, based on her past experience in HomeSight’s homebuyer education classes. “The classes gave me a greater understanding of the entire process of buying a home from start to finish,” said Bannister. She was so excited about U-lex, she bought a home for her son. “It’s a great opportunity,” she said, adding: “and registration was simple.”

“We were looking for a supportive environment where our family could thrive both emotionally and academically, and where we could feel connected and empowered,” said Bannister. “U-lex offers a strong sense of community, safety, and stability – things that are very important to us. Ulex’s values align with ours, and I see it as a place where our family can truly grow and feel at home.”

HomeSight News, News
April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 HomeSight

For HomeSight’s Homeownership team, the mission is personal.

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For HomeSight’s Homeownership team,
the mission is personal.

Scott Kim

HomeSight’s Director of Portfolio and Lending Operations, Scott Kim, oversees our loan portfolio, homebuyer education, and lending origination teams. What drives him?

“If I can help a few families like mine, I’ve accomplished my mission, along with HomeSight’s.”
— Scott Kim

Scott’s family immigrated to the U.S. when he was five years old. They lived in a single room for 18 months while his parents saved for an apartment deposit. After eight years of budgeting and sacrifice, they achieved homeownership.

“I can’t help but wonder how much sooner we could’ve purchased our home if we had access to an organization like HomeSight,” Kim says. Scott’s personal connection to HomeSight fuels his passion and ability to connect with clients.

“HomeSight is a unicorn in the Washington State mortgage industry. Other organizations support homeownership for low- to moderate-income borrowers, but not at HomeSight’s level. We provide $50,000, $100,000, or even over $200,000 in down-payment assistance—I don’t know of another organization in Washington State doing this.”
— Scott Kim

Scott describes his journey at HomeSight as challenging yet rewarding. One memorable project involved assisting a first-time buyer with a HomeSight development resale: guiding her through the process and handing over the keys. “The genuine appreciation and emotions I felt from the buyer were one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Kim says.

HomeSight News, News
March 20, 2025March 20, 2025 HomeSight

HomeSight’s Director of Real Estate Development, Uche Okezie, is a Woman on a Mission to Bring Co-ops to Seattle

HomeSight’s Director of Real Estate Development, Uche Okezie, is a Woman on a Mission to Bring Co-ops to SeattlE!

It’s not a condo, and it’s not communal housing, but a co-op is a model that’s worked to provide affordable homeownership opportunity in hard-to-afford cities.

People may not be familiar with the word ‘ʔúləx̌’ – it’s the Lushootseed word for ‘gather’ – but the word ‘co-op’ should be in every Seattle homebuyer’s vocabulary, according to HomeSight’s Real Estate Development Director Uche Okezie.

Cooperative homes are common in historically expensive east-coast cities, but most Seattleites have never heard of them. However, Seattle’s changing homeownership climate played a major role in Okezie’s decision to bring the limited equity cooperative (or LEC) model to Seattle.

Since HomeSight began working to help people purchase homes 30 years ago, “things have changed in Seattle,” Okezie explained. “Land is more expensive. HomeSight typically relied on down-payment assistance to help income-qualified folks purchase homes, but there’s just not enough to cover the gap in affordability between what they can afford and what the market says they have to pay in order to purchase it.”

Okezie said an LEC provided “another pathway to provide that first level of affordability.”

Sometimes described as the ‘first rung’ of the ladder to homeownership, co-ops make everyone who is a resident in the building a part owner of the building. Co-op purchasers, said Okezie, “have bought shares that give them the right to live in their unit for however long they own their shares. It gives each household, or member, a vote in all the building operations. Whether it’s the budget, or the board of directors — who are elected co-op members – their share gives them a vote on what happens with their building and in their community, and that community is the building.”

Okezie said community is a significant difference between condo ownership and co-op ownership. “Because everybody owns the building cooperatively, they all have a vested interest in its destiny, its future, and they have the right to communicate that to their fellow members, the people with whom they share this asset,” said Okezie. “And although you are building your individual wealth with the purchase of your shares, you’re also collectively building wealth in the form of the asset that you all live in and share.”

The biggest stumbling block for buyers is unfamiliarity. “It’s just not a common model here,” said Okezie. “I would love for this to be something that was completely normalized and another homeownership option for people.”

The dream of homeownership can be realized for more people with “more co-ops, more limited equity co-ops, and more demand for these units.” Okezie wants co-op ownership to be “just as commonplace as saying: ‘I own a condo.’”

U-lex @ Othello Square has just 20 units remaining for sale to income-qualified buyers. Situated next to the light rail station at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Holly Park Drive, U-lex will offer 68 units affordable to families earning 80 percent or less of the area’s median income at the time of purchase. To be eligible, purchasers must meet the income requirements, be first-time homebuyers, or have not owned a home in the past three years. Learn more about U-lex here.

HomeSight News, News
March 11, 2025March 12, 2025 HomeSight

Plate of Nations is Bringing Back Date Night!

Plate of Nations is Bringing Back Date Night!

With participating restaurants spanning the globe from Laos to Ethiopia, Southeast Seattle’s Restaurant Promotion Week highlights the unmatched diversity of its amazing food — and culture.

Between March 21 and April 6, western Washingtonians can emerge from a dark winter and hit the town on a 17-day culinary and cultural world tour – and they won’t have to venture beyond Seattle to do it. HomeSight’s Plate of Nations will return for its 14th year of celebrating southeast Seattle’s vibrant culinary scene, and this year, we’re inviting everyone to make their adventure a whole evening out with dinner and a show.

This year, Seattle’s most diverse restaurant week will feature around 75 independently owned restaurants that highlight the incredible cultural diversity in southeast Seattle, particularly along the Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor.

In addition, social media contests on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook leading up to the event will offer chances to win “dinner and a show” – gift cards to participating restaurants and tickets for local movie houses, music venues and theaters in southeast Seattle.  Customers can win prizes during Plate of Nations by downloading a “passport” from the Plate of Nations website, or at any participating restaurant) to record their culinary trip around the world.

Participating restaurants include neighborhood favorites as well as brand-new establishments. They include Taco City, Delish Ethiopian, Rainier BBQ, The Original Philly’s, Southtown Pie and many more.

Immigrants from around the world have settled in Rainier Valley and started businesses that provide cultural favorites for ethnic communities looking for a taste of home. Those restaurant owners are excited to welcome other customers to join in their traditions.

“Southeast Seattle is so unique,” said HomeSight’s Community Development Director Sarah Valenta. “You can walk down the street and hear dozens of languages spoken. With so many cultures represented here, our food scene has choices from all over the world, and it’s all as authentic as you can possibly get. We’re so excited to partner with southeast Seattle’s cultural institutions as well this year. It’s a real celebration of what southeast Seattle has to offer.”

The event was conceived in 2011 by former Salima owner Asari Mohamath, a Cham Muslim refugee from Vietnam. HomeSight – a nonprofit catalyst for equitable homeownership and community development in southeast Seattle – has organized Plate of Nations since its inception.

Sponsored and managed by HomeSight, Plate of Nations is co-sponsored by the Martin Luther King Business Association, Amazon, the Seattle Office of Economic Development and the Essential Southeast Seattle Collective.

Meet the woman behind Plate of Nations: Sarah Valenta

During nearly 20 years at HomeSight, Community Development Director Sarah Valenta has been a woman with a mission, a vision, and an appetite for growth.

Southeast Seattle was a different neighborhood when Sarah Valenta began her HomeSight career in community development. “Back then, the city’s goal was to fill storefronts however possible,” said Valenta. “HomeSight’s approach to community development was different. We recognized southeast Seattle was at risk for gentrification, so we set goals that prioritized anti-displacement and neighborhood retention. We collected data, did research, and involved the entire community in planning for programs and progress.”

The storefronts along Rainier Avenue filled with small business owners who lived in the community. HomeSight’s focus grew to include businesses and community members in all of Rainier Valley.

“Building generational wealth through business ownership and growth is a traditional way for people of color, immigrants, and refugees to improve their economic situation,” Valenta said. “Supporting entrepreneurship and business growth in Rainier valley helps these specific communities but we’re really lifting whole community. We’re all in this together.”

HomeSight News, News
March 5, 2025March 12, 2025 HomeSight

Meet Plate of Nations Chef Talya Miller

Meet Plate of Nations Chef: Talya Miller

Talya Miller—chef, entrepreneur, and HomeSight board member—shares how she blends community outreach, healthy Southern cuisine, and small-business success.

Talya Miller first opened The Comfort Zone, a Seattle soul food restaurant, in The Royal Esquire Club—a nonprofit club serving Seattle’s Black community since 1948. Miller’s fresh, healthy take on traditional Southern fare has helped her business grow to an independent location in the Central District.

For Women’s History Month, and to celebrate 2025’s Plate of Nations, HomeSight sat down with Miller to discuss healthy Southern cuisine, small business ownership and HomeSight’s hyperlocal approach to community development.

HomeSight: Why did you choose to open your restaurant in the Royal Esquire Club?

Miller: Cooking has always been a passion of mine, and both sides of my family have a tradition of showcasing culinary skills. Encouraged by family and friends—especially my mother, one of seven siblings who are all excellent cooks—I pursued this path. My grandmother and my father’s younger brother are also exceptional cooks.

Established in 1948 by Black men to support the community, The Royal Esquire Club has always held significant meaning for my family. Being part of an organization that uplifts the community resonated deeply with me, as our core values align. I was thrilled at the chance to serve them. I wanted The Royal Esquire Club to be more accessible to the public. As a private club, its reach was limited. Introducing The Comfort Zone restaurant within its space allowed the broader community to engage with the club more frequently.

HomeSight: What is it like cooking with your daughter?

Miller: Cooking with my daughter at The Comfort Zone is incredibly rewarding. Together, we craft soul food that blends tradition with health-conscious choices. We honor classic Southern dishes while accommodating various dietary needs by using fresh, local ingredients. For example, we substitute turkey for pork, streamline recipes, and offer vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options. Our goal is to balance rich flavors with nutrition, ensuring each meal is both delicious and nourishing.

HomeSight: You’ve participated in Plate of Nations for several years now. How did this experience shape your business?

Miller: Participating in Plate of Nations has been transformative for The Comfort Zone. Events like Plate of Nations are vital as they unite the community by celebrating cultural diversity and introducing small businesses to new patrons, boosting economic growth. Beyond showcasing our restaurant, I enjoy discovering and supporting fellow local eateries, enriching my culinary perspective and strengthening community bonds.

HomeSight: You serve as secretary on HomeSight’s board. How has your board tenure been, and what are your goals—both for HomeSight and your business?

Miller: My involvement with initiatives like Plate of Nations inspired me to join the board and it’s been deeply rewarding. On the board, I contribute to strategic decisions that enhance our neighborhoods. My goal is to promote inclusive growth and ensure our programs meet community needs. Looking ahead, I plan to expand The Comfort Zone’s offerings, deepen our local partnerships, and collaborate with community partners to establish a food bank.

HomeSight: What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs hoping to start a restaurant or business?

Miller: Start by visiting HomeSight’s website and exploring their Resources page to find programs that align with your business needs. If you need assistance during the application process, HomeSight offers support—don’t hesitate to reach out for clarification. For Plate of Nations, express your interest by contacting the event coordinators through the Plate of Nations website.

Talya Miller, Owner of The Comfort Zone and HomeSight’s Board Secretary

HomeSight News, News
February 21, 2025March 12, 2025 HomeSight

Thrive in 2025: Unleash the Power of Homebuyer Education

Thrive in 2025: Unleash the Power of Homebuyer Education

You – Yes, You – Can Become an Expert in Your Own Finances, and Once You Do, Financial Independence is Yours

Some people can look at a pile of bills, receipts and bank statements and turn them into a beautiful financial plan. The rest of us? Maybe not. Personal finance isn’t taught in many schools, and it’s not easy to self-teach, especially if you don’t know where to start. Instead of telling yourself you “should really start getting ready to buy a home this year,” reach out and get FREE one-on-one guidance and instruction. You don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Here’s how homebuyer education can help you …

… Make Your Finances Serve Your Needs and Meet YOUR Goals

HomeSight’s homebuyer education doesn’t just prepare you to buy a home; it equips you with the skills and knowledge to achieve financial independence. By understanding and managing your credit, learning financial discipline, and walking through a demystified homebuying process, you – and anyone – can make sound financial decisions for the long-term. You choose the destination, and financial education helps you set the course.

… Banish Fear and Confusion from the Homebuying Process

HomeSight’s counselors tell us that when homebuyers education clients arrive, it’s not unusual to hear them describe the process as “overwhelming” and “probably not possible.” By the time homebuyer education breaks down the steps involved in purchasing a home – from securing financing to understanding mortgage options and navigating the closing process –our clients tell us they are ready to start the search for their dream home.

… Improve Your Credit (and Access to Financing)

We really can’t understate the role credit plays in our financial lives. Credit can determine whether you can qualify for a mortgage and even which interest rate you’ll get. Homebuyer education can show you how to improve your credit and teach you how to use your credit wisely. Improving your scores leads to better loan terms and puts your goals within reach.

… Avoid Setbacks

You can’t avoid pitfalls if you don’t know where to look for them. Homebuyer education will show you how to avoid common mistakes such as taking on a mortgage you can’t afford, failing to budget for home maintenance costs, or misunderstanding loan terms.

… Build Long-Term Wealth

Owning a home remains one of the most effective ways to build wealth over time, especially when you have the tools and knowledge to manage it properly. Homebuyer education can teach you how to leverage homeownership to increase your long-term financial security, You’ll learn how home equity works, how homeownership creates generational wealth, and recognize the long-term benefits of owning rather than renting.

… Navigate Down Payment Assistance Programs

Do you know about all the available programs designed to make homeownership more affordable for first-time homebuyers? HomeSight does. Whether it’s down payment assistance, first-time homebuyer programs or tax credits, HomeSight can help you identify and access these resources.

… What are you waiting for?

Let’s get started!

HomeSight News, News
January 17, 2025April 28, 2025 HomeSight

We’re Taking These Five Actions Today to Further Dr. King’s Vision – And You Can Join Us

We’re Taking These Five Actions Today to Further Dr. King’s Vision – And You Can Join Us

In his 1967 speech “Where Do We Go from Here?”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized that economic disparity was not simply a byproduct of racism but a deliberate outcome of policies and practices that reinforced segregation and limited access to financial prosperity.

Dr. King’s call for economic justice remains as relevant today as it was in 1967, and today, January 20, 2025, the holiday honoring his legacy is a call to action.

HomeSight, along with 90 other regional organizations working in partnership for homeowning equity in the Black Home Initiative, are taking a systemic, multi-faceted approach to fulfilling Dr. King’s vision. We are:

  1. Expanding Down Payment Assistance Programs. Many BIPOC first-time homebuyers struggle to save for a down payment due to historical income and wealth gaps. HomeSight offers several down payment assistance programs to serve the whole community, with initiatives such as the Sam Smith “Hi Neighbor” Homeownership Fund.
  2. Strengthening Anti-Displacement Efforts. HomeSight’s cooperative housing development, U-lex@Othello Square is an intentional anti-displacement tool, prioritizing sales to south Seattle residents and stakeholders, and allowing neighbors a chance to stay in Seattle while stabilizing their housing costs and building equity and generational wealth.
  3. Promoting Inclusive Lending Practices. HomeSight is dedicated to inclusive lending practices, building a bridge to affordability for community members who never believed they could own their homes.
  4. Increasing Affordable Housing Development. HomeSight and Black Home Initiative are prioritizing the construction of affordable housing, while ensuring BIPOC developers have a seat at the table. The Field Order 15 Fund offers planning and financial support for BIPOC developers who are building affordable units accessible to low- and middle-income families.
  5. Providing Financial Education and Resources. HomeSight offers free homebuyer education and HUD-certified counseling focused on credit building, mortgage readiness, and long-term financial sustainability to empower more BIPOC families to achieve homeownership.

Now more than ever, achieving equity requires intentional action from policymakers, financial institutions, and community leaders working together. By joining the Black Home Initiative and supporting organizations such as HomeSight, you can join the efforts to dismantle structural inequality at its roots, honoring Dr. King’s legacy and building a future where opportunity and prosperity are accessible to all.

 

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