Karen Cabrera was on the real estate side of homeownership in 1986 when a mortgage lender suggested she move to lending.  That was May 1990. She’s been a mortgage lender ever since. 

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Karen works out of INB’s Peoria office. She has called Galesburg home since she was five-years-old. Her work as a lender introduced her to volunteer work in her community. She takes part in both the Knox Country Habitat for Humanity chapter and Project Rebound.  While Habitat is primarily involved in new home construction, Project Rebounds restores abandoned or distressed homes for first-time home buyers who have fair  credit and employment history, but haven’t saved enough for a down payment. The program spearheaded by the University of Illinois Co-op.

Project Rebound, Karen says, struggled to get a foothold in Galesburg until a customer of Karen’s called. “The former NFL player and friends made a large donations to get us on the path to purchase and rehab homes to be resold  in his hometown to help the poor and underserved,” she says. Karen sits on the board of Project Rebound, and also the selection committee.

Karen has served as Habitat for Humanity board president three times and has been on the Family Selection Committee from the beginning.  Through both programs, she estimates she has been involved with helping at least 50 families afford homes.

By serving these organizations, Karen says, “This is another way I get to help buyers achieve the dream of homeownership that they would not get to with any traditional mortgage.” She notes that, as a lender, she often works with families struggling with a poor credit score and not being able to save for a down payment.

Contact Karen so she can help you find your path to homeownership.

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