ORLANDO, Fla. — Buying or selling a home can be a difficult process to navigate, especially with all of the changes in the market in the last few years.  For one particular group, the process can included some unique challenges.

What You Need To Know

  • A survey by realtor.com shows nearly three-fourths of new homebuyers in the next 20 years will be Hispanic, and that more than half of Hispanics are new homebuyers

  • The National Association of Realtors states the rate of Hispanic home ownership has increased every year for nearly a decade.  It’s the only ethnic demographic to see such continued gains

  • Along with the usual challenges homebuying can bring, a language barrier can make it even harder

Victor Alvarado is getting a look at another home on the market. He also has his eyes on another house that he could see his family living in. But getting to this point has not come easy. He has been in the process of buying a home for more than a couple of years. 

With home prices skyrocketing for several years, and the normal challenges of the home-buying process, Alvarado needed someone to guide him. He eventually linked up with realtor, Rosa Hughes.

“I’m here to help them through the process because it is hard, if you don’t talk to them, you don’t educate them, they won’t find where they wanted to go or where they wanted to be,” said Hughes.

But it is not just Hughes’ real-estate knowledge that came in handy. Like Alvarado, she’s Hispanic.

“Being Hispanic helps me understand the needs for the community,” said Hughes. “And sometimes they don’t think they can find a house.”

Hugues says culturally, Hispanics may be looking for specific accommodations with a home. In Alvarado’s case, he wants a home where his parents can also live with him.

“We see on equal terms … we understand,” said Alvarado. “There are a couple things, even speaking with her, that she understands. She understands how family is and that’s what you look for when buying a home, because that’s pretty much where you’re going to have your family.”

A survey by realtor.com shows nearly three-fourths of new homebuyers in the next 20 years will be Hispanic, and that more than half of Hispanics are new homebuyers.

Rose Kemp is the first Hispanic president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

“It’s an exciting time for Hispanic homeowners looking to buy that first home, that first opportunity — this is a great market to do so — we have interest rates which are dropping a bit — which is also great,” said Kemp.

But along with the usual challenges homebuying can bring, a language barrier can make it even harder. 

Hughes says she transitioned from another profession into becoming a real estate eight years ago because she felt she had the unique ability to help Hispanic homebuyers through the process.

“Anytime someone says, ‘Hey Rosa, I really want to look for a house but I don’t think I can qualify for it’, I say, ‘Hey, come into my office and let’s have an education session,’” said Hughes. “We can give you updates, or we can give you the steps that you can, probably in one months, two months or six months to a year, purchase a house.”

For Alvarado, he could be nearing the end of a long process, and near the beginning of living out his dream of owning a home.

“I’m counting down the days until we move in,” said Alvarado.

The National Association of Realtors stated the rate of Hispanic home ownership has increased every year for nearly a decade. It is the only ethnic demographic to see such continued gains.