Home. Made.

Chosen Family

Kim Ceurstemont always knew she wanted to be a mother. In her late 30s and still single, she opted to become pregnant through a donor. She planned to raise her son on her own, but wanted her child to know who their father was. So she chose a donor willing to share his identity. His name was Guilherme Figueiredo. Gui and his boyfriend, Jeremy, had never discussed children, but both were supportive of Kim’s journey to motherhood. What began as an act of kindness between strangers evolved into a nontraditional family happily living under one roof.To learn more about the podcast, go to: https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/podcast-season-3-episode-6Thanks to Husmates for helping us find this story. Husmates specializes in matching people interested in co-ownership.This season of Home. Made. was produced by Stephanie Foo (host), Rob Rosenthal (Story Editor), Marshall Whitsed (Producer), Kevin Ball (Producer), Annie Rueter (Producer), Pippa Johnstone (Producer), Kristie Chan (Sound Designer), Mark Angly (Sound Designer), Rehmatullah Sheikh (Audience Development), Sarah Kate Kramer (Writer), Ashley Ahearn (Writer), Mio Adilman (Showrunner), Dominic Girard (Showrunner, Executive Producer), Clay Closson (Brand Executive Producer)), Jessica Korbya (Project Manager), Bridget Hillyer (Creative Strategist), Calli Toman (Copywriter), Michael D’Agostini (Designer), Sarah Henseler (Copy Editor), Matt Cardwell (Publishing Editor-in-Chief), Casey Hurbis (Chief Marketing Officer).As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.**Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.

The Blind Surfer

As a teenager, Ling Pai had barely settled into her new home, in a new country, when she learned she was losing her sight. She’d been diagnosed with dominant optic atrophy, a degenerative condition with no cure or treatment. Her vision would continue to get worse with every passing year, until she was effectively blind. For years Ling resisted – even outright ignored – the implications of her diagnosis. She refused to ask anyone for help, and stubbornly pursued perfection with everything she did. A crisis in her 20s – when she found herself alone at home, far from friends and family – forced her to confront and accept her condition. It liberated her to take on new challenges, ones that required her to ask others for help. Challenges like downhill skiing. And competitive surfing. Adventures that brought new waves of friends, family, and more places to call home.To learn more about the podcast, go to: https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/podcast-season-3-episode-5As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.**Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.

House Managers

At one time, Robert and Dareda owned seven homes – including a massive lakefront property and a 50-acre farm. And then it all came crashing down. But that didn’t quite spell the end of their opulent lifestyle – or at least not the appearance of it. For the next decade, the couple occupied dozens of extravagant houses – none of which belonged to them. In exchange for living on the cheap in luxury homes for sale, they had to agree to keep them absolutely pristine and ready to show at a moment’s notice.As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.**Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.

Love, Loss and Baking

Jazzmyn Cramer and Chris Phillips arrived in the desert outside of Chama, New Mexico, with plans to build a home and live a self-sustaining life together. But in a flash, a tragic accident changed everything. Suddenly, Jazzmyn found herself alone, broke, and in a town where she knew no one. She turned to the one thing that always consoled and steadied her through challenging moments: baking. And that gave rise to an idea she hoped might help her move on – by staying put and opening the Wilder Bakeshop..As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.**Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.

Found In The Fire

Brandon Smith was raised by a family of public servants, but he felt like he was more of a public nuisance. A couple of wrong turns after college landed him in prison. While languishing in his cell, lost and unclear on what path to take next, a prison counselor offered him an opportunity: volunteer for Fire Camp, and help California tame its wildfires. The idea of fighting wildfires terrified him – but it also sparked hope. If he could just survive the program, it might lead him out of the wilderness. And help him find out where he belonged.As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.**Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.