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Florida has the 2nd highest foreclosure rate in the nation. In response, as Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers voted to provide millions to help people buy homes.

Hear it Here: Housing Help

Tamela Nelloms grew up in an apartment complex. She always dreamed of owning her own home, but didn’t know where to begin.

“You just kind of knew that lifestyle and there wasn’t anyone else going through that process so I didn’t see a path being taken,” said Tamela.

The 33 year-old single mom learned what to look for when shopping for a home with help from Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The state funded group teaches first time buyers what questions to ask lenders and real estate agents. It also provides fixed interest loans.

“The loans are based on the average income per county. In some areas a person can get a loan even if their income is 99,000 dollars a year.

Lawmakers voted to give Florida Housing an extra 20 million dollars to lend. Tamela qualified for a 10 thousand dollar loan. She won’t have to pay it back until she sells her house.

“Once I was notified that I would be able to qualify for those dollars it made the process of purchasing a home a lot easier,” said Tamela.

Florida Housing Executive Director Steve Auger says education is the key, not money.

“We make sure that folks are ready for what they’re getting into and that accounts for our foreclosure rate which is dramatically lower than the conventional markets or the sub prime market,” said Auger.

The low foreclosure rate is good news to Tamela. She’s confident she hasn’t gotten her family into a financial nightmare she can’t afford. Florida Housing helped about 5,000 families buy homes last year.