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US Navy veteran buys first home at 78
A nearly 80-year-old US Navy veteran born and raised in Houston recently bought his first home and the realtor who sold it to him is hoping to add on something else special. FOX 26's Damali Keith spoke to the veteran and realtor hoping to get help to get the home furnished in time for Christmas.
HOUSTON - A nearly 80-year-old U.S. Navy veteran born and raised in Houston recently bought his very first home and the realtor who sold it to him is hoping to make it even more special. She's on a mission to help get his house furnished.
"Yes, I was in the Navy, and I served in Vietnam. This is my first house. We were staying in a mobile home, and we couldn't renew our lease, and our daughter Michelle told us to look into getting a home instead of trying to lease again," explains 78-year-old Alfred Gus Carter.
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Did he and his wife think it was possible for them to buy their very own home?
"No, never thought it was possible because of our ages," explains his wife, Lisa Carter. "It's three bedrooms. Three baths. There's a dining area. He's got his study, which he hopes to turn into a Man Cave."
"This is home for me," he smiles while swinging open the French doors. "I'd like to have a rocking chair in here, a recliner, a TV, a case for my books".
"Damali, nothing excites me more as a real estate agent than making someone's dream of homeownership come true because he literally thought he was too old in age to purchase a home," explains Real Estate Agent Melissa Sanders.
"He actually knew this was the house for us because when we pulled up we could see the street sign, and it was very similar to his mother's name. She's now passed on. He started crying. I started crying. The realtor started crying," Mrs. Carter explains.
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"Just to see the reaction when he recognized that, it just blew me away. It was amazing," says Sanders.
"I just hurt, and I feel good because I know my mom is looking over us," Mr. Carter says through tears.
"To see the Carters literally shed tears when they walked into this home, it's heartwarming," Sanders adds.
"We live on a fixed income, so we haven't been able to furnish our home. It's going to take us a minute, but we're going to work after it," Mr. Carter explains.
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"I want them to have furniture. I want them to have something new. I want them to have something that they never dreamed of to match this home. They need living room furniture, bedroom furniture. It's Christmas. It's about giving and blessing others," says Sanders.
"It's just fun coming home to your own. I love our house. I'm so grateful. It's such a big blessing from God," says Mr. Carter
If you'd like to play Santa and help with furniture for the Carters, reach out to Realtor Melissa Sanders at realtywithasmile@gmail.com.