Turning Loss into Legacy: How Ideal Credit Union Helped One Member Keep His Family Home
Last Updated on July 24, 2025
After his father's passing, an Ideal Credit Union member was able to keep his childhood home thanks to the Mortgage Rate Relief program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. The reduced interest rates made homeownership affordable and helped him preserve his family legacy.
After the unexpected loss of his father, an Ideal Credit Union member faced the emotional and financial challenge of inheriting his childhood home. Determined to remain in the place where he grew up, he was ready to purchase the house from his father’s estate. Despite having excellent credit and a significant down payment, the high interest rates made qualifying for a mortgage on his limited income nearly impossible.
That’s when Ideal Credit Union, through its partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, introduced him to the Mortgage Rate Relief program—a game-changing solution. The Mortgage Rate Relief program offered a mortgage rate 1.5% below the current market rate, making homeownership not only possible but sustainable.
He was relieved, the program came with no hidden fees or complex requirements—just a straightforward income eligibility check. Thanks to the reduced interest rate, he saved $150 per month on his mortgage, allowing him to qualify for the loan and purchase the home that held so many memories.
The Mortgage Rate Relief program became a vital lifeline, enabling him to preserve his family legacy and build a stable financial future.
Ideal Credit Union’s commitment to affordable homeownership through programs like FHLB Des Moines’ Mortgage Rate Relief is helping Minnesotans stay rooted in their communities, strengthen local economies and foster a more inclusive and resilient housing landscape.
About Ideal Credit Union
Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services and more.
Offices are located in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions. Ideal is an award-winning organization, having been voted “2025 Great Minnesota Workplace” by Twin Cities Business Magazine, “2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best in State Credit Union” by Forbes, 2023 and 2025 Minneapolis – St. Paul Business Journal “Best Place to Work,” “Best Credit Union” for five years in a row by readers of the Stillwater Gazette and was the Readers’ Choice 2024 Best of the Press Hugo Citizen winner in the categories of “Best Workplace,” “Best Bank/Financial,” “Best Mortgage Company” and “Best Customer Service for a Local Business.”
