Thinking about owning a home in the future? Join us for a free virtual panel discussion – The Road to Homeownership – on Tuesday, October 27, from 6:30-7:30 pm. (RSVP here).
Free and open to everyone!
Join Madison-area experts and Own It homeowners as they share stories, tips, and insights on the home-buying process and building wealth through homeownership.
Own It homeowners Elle Winters and Mason Vazquez will share real stories from their home-buying journey: the wins, the surprises, and what they wish they’d known.
They’ll be joined by lender Sara Whitley of Johnson Financial Group and Realtor Lane Manning of Matt Winzenried Real Estate Partners, who are ready to offer guidance and answer questions.
Moderated by Jara Rios-Rodriguez, an Own It mentor and financial advisor at Akamai Investment Advisors.
Bring your questions about saving, credit, pre-approval, and working with a lender and realtor. No question is too big or too small!
Whether you can attend live or want to tune in later to the recording, please RSVP here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/r7jtcdBcRUGjluyIekbNtQ
“I honestly did not believe the day would come because we did not come from a rich family who can help with a down payment… Because of that I thought my dream was impossible, but it wasn’t.”
— Amos M., Own It Homeowner
About the panelists
Elle Winters, Homeowner
Elle became an Own It homeowner in 2024, and soon after closing, offered to help support our education program. She now serves on Own It’s Advisory Council and the Education Committee, helping shape the program for future buyers. She’ll share what the path to buying her home really looked like and what she’s learned as a homeowner since.
Mason Vazquez, Homeowner
Mason works at Anesis Therapy and closed on his home in May 2026, so the whole experience is still fresh. He’ll talk about what it took to get there and what surprised him along the way.
Sara Whitley, Lender, Johnson Financial Group
Sara is an Assistant Vice President and Senior Community Mortgage Loan Officer who specializes in helping first-time homebuyers and knows down payment assistance programs and loan options inside and out. Sara is a co-creator of Own It, serves on the Advisory Council, the Grants Team, and is one of the reasons Own It exists today. With more than 20 years in the mortgage industry, she’s a great person to ask about credit, pre-approval, and what lenders look for.
Lane Manning, Realtor, Matt Winzenreid Real Estate Partners
Lane is one of Own It’s Real Estate Ambassadors, a group of agents committed to increasing access and supporting a more equitable industry for Black and brown families in our community. He’ll answer your questions about house hunting, making offers, and what to expect from working with a realtor.
Jara Rios-Rodriguez, Moderator
Jara is the Director of Tax Services at Akamai Advisors, where she helps individuals and businesses with their taxes, and she’s also one of Own It’s mentors and serves on the Advisory Council. She is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She’ll keep the conversation moving and make sure your questions get answered.