Jettie and Jacquelyn Cooper in front of their Chicago home. Credit: Joshsears.com

BlueHub SUN Homeowners Jettie & Jacquelyn

Borrower
Jettie & Jacquelyn Cooper
Location
Chicago, IL

In 2012, Jettie Cooper was a municipal employee with the City of Chicago, having a normal day at the office. He went for a routine appointment with his cardiologist — and was sent straight from the appointment to the hospital in an ambulance.

Doctors implanted a defibrillator and a pacemaker. Ten days later, the device fired six times, saving his life. As Cooper recalls, “My heart was racing so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest.” Doctors then implanted an additional device called an LVAD, and all was well for 1.5 years. Then, on December 23, 2013, in the middle of a blizzard, the new device sounded. Another rush to the hospital. This time, Cooper spent nearly four months in the ICU. On March 22, 2014, he received a new heart. 

Although that was “a great blessing,” his medical troubles were far from over and his financials ones were just beginning. 

Cooper had assumed that he would return to work, so he used all of his sick leave, his vacation days and then went on public assistance. Later, he was approved for disability pay through his job. A five-year, interest-only mortgage loan modification helped, and all seemed well. Then in 2017, Cooper’s kidneys began failing. First, he went on dialysis four days a week; then he received a kidney transplant — another great blessing. 

"My wife and I have been in our home more than 25 years. We are the kind of people who try to touch other lives, so we know almost everyone within a block or two. We didn’t want to lose our home.”

Jettie Cooper BlueHub SUN homeowner

In 2019, his mortgage modification ended, and the monthly payments skyrocketed from $267 to $1,873. “Three months before the mortgage modification ended, I started seeking help. I spoke to modification attorneys, community affairs officers, my local city councilman. I heard about this organization out of Boston (SUN) and gave them a call,” Cooper recalls. “At the same time, I was working with an attorney. I paid them a substantial sum for 10 months.” Repeatedly, the Coopers appealed to the mortgage company and the appeal was denied. “My wife and I decided to call BlueHub again.” 

Cooper was underwater on his mortgage, meaning he owed more than his home’s appraised value of $124,000. He was able to secure a new affordable mortgage from BlueHub SUN in October 2021. He saved a significant $101,975 — 57% — off his principal balance and his monthly payments were reduced by $1,159.90. Cooper will keep 43% of any appreciation in the property over time, sharing the balance with SUN per the shared appreciation mortgage. 

“BlueHub did what they said they would do. I have already begun paying a mortgage that we can handle with no problem. We are so thankful.”

$101,975

Amount saved off of previous mortgage principal balance

$1,159

Savings on monthly mortgage payments