April 2026

Kids’ Art Contest Coming May 1

Tell the young creators you know to gather their art supplies and put on their thinking caps! Beginning May 1, AHFA’s 5th annual Kids’ Art Contest will invite them to use their imaginations to illustrate the home of their dreams. In observance of National Homeownership Month, AHFA is excited to launch our 2026 event. This year, we’re inviting young artists to imagine, design, and draw the place they would love to call home.

See below for contest rules, and watch your email for an official announcement and entry details on May 1.

Who Can Enter:

Ages 5-12 who live in Alabama

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for creative, colorful artwork that brings your dream home to life! Just like a real home builder, you’re in charge of design, so dream big and have fun.

Your drawing can show any kind of home you imagine, such as:

A beach house, castle, cozy cabin, treehouse, or space‑inspired home
A brand‑new design or something totally unique
You can use any art supplies you like, including crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint.

2026 Theme:

“Draw your Dream Home”

Bud’s Outside Bonus Challenge

Every great builder adds something special outside! Try including a fun outdoor feature in your artwork, like:

A dinosaur‑shaped swimming pool
A secret garden
A treehouse
A rocket launch pad
The wilder the idea, the better!

There’s no right or wrong design; just show us what makes your dream home special.

Draw it. Design it. Dream it. Let’s build something amazing together!

Top Lenders Awarded for Using AHFA Programs

Each quarter, AHFA recognizes the top loan officers who closed the most deals using our homeownership programs in the north, central, and south regions. We greatly appreciate their ongoing support as we work together to reach Alabama homebuyers.

North Region: Barbara Gaston of Assurance Financial Group, LLC

Central Region: Barbara Williams of Renasant Bank (tie)

Central Region: Lindsey Nance of Movement Mortgage, LLC (tie)

South Region: Joey Reid of Embrace Home Loans, Inc.

AHFA Joins Industry Leaders at AMPA Award Luncheon

AHFA staff attended the AMPA Award Luncheon, joining mortgage professionals from across the state to celebrate excellence in the industry. The event provided an opportunity for AHFA to connect with partners, recognize outstanding service, and show support for AMPA’s work advancing homeownership in Alabama.

Karlin Aultman (left) pictured with Kerry Richardson of Main Street Mortgage, winner of the AHFA swag bag.

AHFA’s single-family business development team attends the annual AMPA Luncheon in Hoover.

Alana Beaugez (left) with Tammy Kirkland on her final day as Executive Director of AMPA, marking 23 years of service.

Welcome, New Lenders!

AHFA is pleased to welcome five new lenders to our participating lender lineup this quarter. Local Bank, DSLD Mortgage, Guild Winds Credit Union, Tyndall Federal Credit Union and Huntington Bank have joined the team that turned 2,400 homebuyers into homeowners just last year. Thank you for helping us reach every corner of Alabama with AHFA’s homebuyer assistance programs.

Share Your Success Story

We would love to hear of your recent achievements in serving Alabama homebuyers with AHFA programs. Seeing your successes puts a face on our programs and reminds us why we do what we do. So let's celebrate together! You might even be featured in our public advertising and future newsletters. Email our business development team at FirstStepHome@ahfa.com to let us know you have a story worth sharing!

Realtors and Lenders, Let’s Connect! We Want to Meet You!

Are you a mortgage or real estate professional who wants to know more about AHFA programs? AHFA offers on-site training on our programs that covers borrower and property eligibility, processing, documentation, income calculations and more. Our “Doing Business with AHFA” class qualifies for 3 CEUs, certified by the Alabama Real Estate Commission. To schedule an informational visit or training session, simply fill out our online form at Training Resources | AHFA.