For many families, closing on a home is one of the defining moments of their lives.

The Sullivan County Land Bank, in conjuction with RUPCO, celebrated three first-time homebuyer families in the Village of Liberty on June 27.

RUPCO has a longstanding history of providing homeownership services, programs, and assistance to first-time homebuyers in the surrounding areas.

The Sullivan County Land Bank seeks to raise the quality of real estate properties in the area through the acquisition of vacant and distressed properties, with their mission statement being “to strengthen neighborhoods by mitigating blight through strategic property acquisition that will create vibrant neighborhoods, increase homeownership, stimulate economic growth and support community development by returning properties to productive use and improve quality of life.”

Together, these two organizations brought to life three new properties for three first-time homebuyers.

Michelle and Thomas VanDunk are the new owners of one of the properties, and have become first-time homebuyers in Liberty. They live with their children Chase, Cheyenne and Tori.

Including the property in Liberty at which the ceremony was hosted, the closing of two other newly constructed homes in the Villages of Liberty and Monticello were also the center of celebration.

“Our mission is creating homes, supporting people, and improving communities, and that’s exactly what this did,” Assistant Vice President of Operations and Executive Director of the Rural Development Advisory Corporation (RDAC) Faith Moore said. “We know that communities thrive when housing is affordable, and this is a really true indication of that.”

RDAC is a subsidiary of RUPCO.

Sullivan County Land Bank Corporation Deputy Commissioner, Jill Weyer, spoke before the crowd, thanking those in attendance for their support of the projects, the partners at RUPCO, Land Bank Board Members and the VanDunk family.

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther was invited to speak before the crowd, where she reminisced on her own experiences in becoming a homeowner in Sullivan County for the first time.

“I will never forget the day and how grateful I was, and how happy my children were, and I know that you [the VanDunk family] have that feeling too,” Gunther said. “It is amazing to have a home and I wish you the best of luck.”

RUPCO Chief Executive Officer Kevin O’Connor closed out the ceremony’s speeches.

“There is no greater thing in the realm of housing than to see Tori and Cheyenne be able to have their own room in a house that Mom and Dad purchased,” O’Connor said. “Michelle, we hope that you’re very happy here for a long time. You have a beautiful yard, a beautiful home, it looks like a really nice neighborhood and a great place to be.”

O’Connor went on to thank RUPCO’s staff and all those involved in the various projects, including Land Bank Deputy Commissioner Weyer, Director of HomeOwnership Center Sandy Altomare, and Director of Facilities and General Manager of the Home Squad Bill Anderson.

“I think with some of the funding the State has provided, we’re going to be able to do more home ownership, and I think that's a great thing,” O’Connor said.

Moore then offered housewarming gifts to the VanDunk family; a potted plant and two mugs filled with candy for the children Cheyenne and Tori.

With her parents' acquisition of their new home, young Cheyenne said that her favorite part of the new house is the backyard, where she can play with her siblings and collect pinecones.