"Sylver and Craig Belcourt - and their three children - recently moved into the family's first home, a spacious four-bedroom purchased in Billings. The couple recently became the first in Montana to use a popular Native home loan program outside a reservation border.

�It feels good to have your own backyard,� said Sylver. �The kids are excited and happy. You feel really good about yourself like you really accomplished something.�

The couple, both in their mid-20s, was approved for the Section 184 loan, which was made possible due to efforts of the Apsaalooke (Crow) Nation Housing Authority. Last fall, the tribe started an application process to expand the Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, or Section 184, to people living in urban areas or near reservations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the Crow application in April. The Belcourts learned of the program after contacting Eleanor Kindness, a home mortgage lender at Wells Fargo.

�They knew I was Native American,� said Kindness. And they were told the mortgage consultant helped Native Americans with home loans."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Native home loan program enhanced (The Missoulian 6/12)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave Lee - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

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