A “wow moment” and more for new homeowner Yanixa Sanabria of West Springfield
When Yanixa Sanabria got the call most coveted by all prospective homebuyers—“Your offer was accepted!”—she was in the emergency department of a local hospital, where she works as a financial inpatient representative. Her first instinct was to find her supervisor.
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to tell Melissa!’ I took off running with my little WOW, my workstation on wheels, which is a mobile computer cart. Those things are very loud, I just remember the sound of the wheels and the nurses were like, ‘What is happening?’ I found her and cried, ‘I did it! Noah and I, we did it!’” said Sanabria, of her 16-year-old son.
This “wow moment” brought the start of a new, bright chapter for Sanabria, who has overcome grief and other challenges in the past decade. In 2021, she suffered a serious injury.
“I was in a dark place. But my family never gave up on me. My mother and brother came to my apartment, they helped me pack up my things, and said, ‘Hey, it would be better if you moved back in with mom,’” said Sanabria, who is from a large, tight-knit family. “I thought I’d live at home for a year, to save up and buy a house. It didn’t happen the first year, or the second. But I was slowly getting better with their support.”
The first night Sanabria and her son spent at their home—a two-bedroom condo in West Springfield—in December 2025, they ate dinner atop moving boxes and slept with mattresses on the floor. As she tells it, it was a magical night.
“I made spaghetti and meat sauce with garlic bread, like we always did. Noah had asked for this meal a while back, before the offer was even accepted. He was like, ‘Mom, you remembered!’ It was amazing. Afterward he told me he wants to cook more with me,” said Sanabria.
In addition to being super low maintenance and a perfect location for her, the condo brings Sanabria space to pursue her love of crafts (right now she’s making hairbows and tutus, which she sells at work and online). And she has been happy to meet her neighbors of all ages, several of whom are coworkers.
“I love it, the place is very peaceful and calm, it feels close to nature,” said Sanabria, who previously worked as a caregiver for people with special needs. “I’m very proud, being a homeowner is a big deal for my whole journey. I’ve dreamed of this forever, of having a place to call my own, of building a foundation for me and my son, where I feel safe. My home represents personal, financial, and emotional security, all in one. And it’s confirmation that I didn’t give up. And that dreams come true!”
Sanabria’s story, at the very beginning, was inspired by the words of local first-time homeowners.
“I went on the Way Finders’ web site and read a bunch of the people’s stories. As cheesy as it sounds, it was genuinely one of those moments of, ‘Oh, if they’ve gone through all that and they did it, then I can, too!’ It wasn’t like every single thing was similar to my story. But it was little bits and pieces from the different stories,” said Sanabria. “And that’s what made me want to share my own. I’m just trying to pass forward what I’ve learned. I feel like I could have done it so much sooner if I’d known even half of what I know now.”
One thing Sanabria learned? If you can’t make one of Way Finders’ monthly First-time Homebuyer Workshops—held live, in person or online—check out the Framework option, which is a self-paced online education course. She liked being able to repeat sections as needed and jot down notes. Then came a conversation that solidified the makings of her own story.
“After I completed Framework, I had a phone interview with Way Finders to receive my first-time homebuyer certification. That’s how I met Homeownership Specialist Mariola Jarzynska,” said Sanabria. “I remember her offering to do follow-up with me and I was like, ‘Yes, please!’ I knew I needed that self-accountability, with someone holding my hand just a little bit. Someone at my side.”
Over the few months they worked together at the end of 2025, Sanabria most appreciated how Jarzynska listened and supported her.
“With Mariola, I felt heard and encouraged. She just made me feel that comfortable, I wasn’t even embarrassed to tell my story or to ask questions without feeling stupid,” said Sanabria. “She also taught me to take control and be in the driver’s seat whenever I met with lenders or loan people or whatever. She’d say, ‘Don’t be afraid to go in there and ask these questions.’ I always kept a notebook with her tips, and that made me feel more prepared. More self-confident.”
Sanabria had already started looking at houses before she took the course. But when she resumed, everything made more sense. As luck would have it, a condo suddenly came available in the same complex where she’d previously fallen in love with a place that had quickly sold. When she applied for a loan, her first-time homebuyer certification made a big difference.
“The loan officer said, ‘Wait a minute, I forgot you did the education through Way Finders!’ And my numbers changed so drastically. I looked at my sister and said, ‘I can do this! I have the numbers.’ The amount I’d saved was way more than what I needed for the closing,” said Sanabria, who looks forward to having her extended family over. “I feel like I’m back again! I feel good, I have a great job, I’m socializing again. I’ve been through a lot, and I just keep on swimming. My thing is, ‘Live and learn.’”
Congratulations to you, Yanixa and Noah! We are inspired by your story and success.