How Katie VanBuren — Single Mom, First-Time Lease-to-Own Client — Got Her Second Chance at Homeownership
There’s a moment in every client journey that defines us. Not the easy wins, not the smooth closings — but the moments when the answer is no, and what we do next.
For Katie VanBuren, that moment came hard and fast. And what happened after it is the kind of story we’ll be telling for years.
She Found Her Home on the Very First Tour
Katie came to us the way so many clients do — a little nervous, a little hopeful, and carrying the particular weight of someone who has been told by the system that she doesn’t quite fit.
As a single mother, she knew what was at stake. This wasn’t just a home search. It was a second chance — at equity, at stability, at a future she could build on her own terms, in her own space.
From the moment we connected, our job was simple: make her feel like she had an entire team in her corner. Because she did.
We got to work. And on her very first Red Carpet One & Done Tour™ — our signature service — Katie fell in love.
Then the Door Slammed Shut
We moved fast. We put together a compelling, data-backed offer — strong, clean, and built on real market evidence. We were confident.
The offer was rejected. No counteroffer. No explanation. Just: no.
We were shocked. Katie was heartbroken.
But here’s what she said that still stays with us: she wasn’t disappointed in us. She saw how hard we fought. She saw the data. She understood we had done everything right — and sometimes, inexplicably, the answer is still no.
We Don’t Stop When the Door Closes
While Katie was graciously pivoting with us toward a second tour, Tamera was still working the phone.
We do not accept no without understanding why. And in this case, we hadn’t gotten a single reason — which meant, to us, there was still a conversation to be had.
We pushed for it. We got it. A second, comprehensive conversation with the agent on the other side.
It did the trick.
Our original offer — not a dollar changed, not a term adjusted — was accepted. Exactly as presented.
The Celebration Heard Round the Neighborhood
When we called Katie with the news, she was overjoyed. And not just Katie — her friends were celebrating. We heard about the happy chaos that erupted when she shared the news, and we were celebrating right along with her.
That’s what this work feels like when it goes right. It doesn’t feel like a transaction. It feels like a victory for someone who deserved one.
The Twist Nobody Saw Coming
After Katie moved in and got settled, we did what we always do: we showed up with a housewarming gift.
We’d chosen a piece of wall art with a saying that was — in the most perfect way — all Katie.
She adored it.
And then, in a bizarre twist of events, a contractor lifted it. Took it right out of her home.
When we found out, we didn’t think twice. We replaced it — same piece, same meaning, delivered with the same love it was originally given with.
What Katie Said
We’ll let her say it in her own words:
“Exceptional! Don’t be nervous! They are not too good to be true. They are just the Best duo from start to finish. Made the entire process as stress-free as possible. Excellent communication and support! They were in my corner every step of the way. Because of their dedication, this single mother has a second chance at owning a home. It’s heartwarming knowing in this extremely crazy world, there are still people who care. Best experience ever. I love my house! Thanks for everything, Tamera & Jerry!”
— Katie VanBuren ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This Is What We’re Here For
Katie’s story isn’t unusual for us — not the persistence, not the VIP service, not the housewarming gift, and not the fact that we replaced it without blinking.
This is just how we work.
If you’re a single parent, a first-time buyer, or someone the traditional mortgage system has looked past — we see you. We know your situation isn’t a liability. It’s just a reason to find a smarter path.
Our and our partners’ lease to own home programs in Greensboro and across the Triad — in fact across North Carolina — are built for people exactly like Katie. People who are ready. People who deserve a second chance at homeownership.
You will not be disappointed. (We have it on very good authority.)
Learn more about Burson Home Advisors’ lease to own program in this press release.
About Tamera Nielsen
Tamera Nielsen is a licensed real estate advisor and lease-to-own specialist serving the Triad and greater North Carolina. As the founder of Burson Home Advisors, she helps first-time buyers, single parents, and families who’ve been turned down by traditional lenders find a real path to homeownership. Her Red Carpet One & Done Tour™ approach and hands-on negotiation style have helped clients across Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and beyond close on homes they were told they couldn’t have.