Leah’s Homebuyer Success Story: From Renting to Rooted

For a long time, Leah Zamesnik wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to put down roots.

“My dad was in the navy, so I grew up moving every two to three years,” said Leah. “I was living in Jackson, Wyoming, after college and got priced out.”

In 2020, Leah was working a professional job and two side jobs just to afford her rent there and decided she just couldn’t do it anymore. She and Hamish, her “ranch reject” who preferred being a family dog to herding livestock, moved to Missoula for a fresh start. The pieces seemed to fall into place, and she quickly felt at home.

“I lucked out finding a job in Missoula,” she said. “I spend a lot of time outside, especially with Hamish. I do a lot of trail running, mountain biking, hiking and backpacking. I’ve found such amazing community here.”

That same year, Leah took Homeword’s Get Ready for HomeOwnership homebuyer education class with her boyfriend at the time. The class provided a broad overview of the process, helping Leah understand what goes into buying a house for the first time.

After the couple broke up, Leah once again found herself in housing limbo, this time with Hamish in tow. Finding a rental that would allow dogs was a challenge, but eventually she found a place in the Rattlesnake.

“It was a tiny studio,” said Leah, “and I was paying $1,400 a month, so it was a little tough on the budget.”

Although she didn’t want to pay so much in rent, Leah wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to purchase her own home in Missoula. She turned to Homeword for personalized, expert guidance to determine what was realistic for her.

“I reached out for the one-on-one pre-purchase counseling,” she said. “I went into that thinking I didn’t have a shot getting into the Missoula market. I wanted to actually talk to someone and get personalized feedback on what I would need to do—and I think my biggest question was, ‘Is this even possible, or am I a renter?’”

Through Homeword’s guidance, Leah gained practical tools to budget, save and plan for a home purchase. She opened up a high-yield savings account and began setting aside the difference between her rent and her estimated future mortgage payment each month. Over time, Leah built up her down payment and learned about assistance programs that could help make homeownership attainable.

“I can’t say enough how amazing a resource Homeword is and how unintimidating it made this whole process,” said Leah. “Everything felt so approachable and accessible. I felt like Homeword was really there to help and support me.”

Leah’s path to homeownership wasn’t without its setback. She had to walk away from a home when an inspection revealed serious issues.

“That was really hard to go through the process, get under contract and really start imagining projects and living there and then walk away from it,” she said.

Leah stayed patient and focused, however, continuing to apply what she’d learned from Homeword. Finally, Leah and her Realtor found the right home.

Leah especially loves the kitchen. Before, in her tiny studio apartment, she rarely cooked, but in her new home that changed immediately. The first few weeks in her new house she cooked every day. It’s a quick bike ride away from the grocery store, and she loves all the space and storage she has.

“I just made my first mortgage payment!” said Leah. “I moved from the Rattlesnake to Franklin to the Fort, so I’m getting used to the new neighborhood, but I love having the bike trail right there. And I have a yard for Hamish. He loves it, and we’re out there all the time playing fetch.”

Leah’s boyfriend moved in as well, and together they are building a life rooted in Missoula.

“My boyfriend and I are really starting to think about our future and plan what our lives look like,” she said. “It’s brought us a sense of permanence and grounding. We want to stay in Missoula. We want to get involved in the community more and be a part of this amazing place.”

Today, Leah is living the life she once thought was out of reach, and it’s firmly planted in the community she loves.

“I wouldn’t be here, owning a house, without Homeword,” said Leah. “I don’t know that I would have ever called a lender without having gone through the homebuyer counseling first.”