Homes for Heroes helps with home ownership

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After years of living on military bases, and two deployments to Iraq, newlyweds Maria and Chris Mola have a house to make a home.  And just in time, because they are expecting.

The Molas were the first in Michiana to receive help from Homes for Heroes, saving thousands of dollars on their new home.

Chris deployed to Iraq just five weeks after their wedding day.

Maria says deployment is something that never gets easy.

"You don't expect it to be that difficult, " Maria Mola expressed, "The hardest part about him being gone is that there are things that he is missing."

But as hard as it is for her, she says its nothing compared to what her husband and so many others put on the line for this country.

The Molas say they are grateful for programs like Homes for Heroes; It made their home buying process much easier and with the money they saved, they were able to prepare for their unborn child.

Jim McKinnies is the realtor that got Homes for Heroes started here in South Bend.  He says that the program has been so successful that it is expanding to Niles and Elkhart.