Pocono News Section

I-Team: Immigrant Family Reaches American Dream

I-Team: Immigrant Family Reaches American Dream - Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 5:55PM EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --An immigrant family in Scranton finally achieves the American dream --thanks in part to Eyewitness News.
We first told you about the story of the Kadyrova's in March. They were about to be tossed from the rental home in Scranton they wanted to buy. This evening, the family who moved here from Russia is sharing their first meal in a home they can call their own.

After weeks of wrangling, Eddy and Sophia Kadyrova finally signed the papers making them homeowners. And they are relieved because as Safiya Kadyrova says “nobody can come and kick you out."

That nearly happened in March. The landlord lost the home for failing to pay the mortgage. The Kadyrova's had been approved to buy the home but the bank rejected their offer for the full asking price. Realtor Chris Cole blames red tape. “They have so many foreclosures going on they don't care. And these people were trapped in the middle of it all"

At the last minute, Eyewitness News asked the sheriff to delay the eviction. It gave Cole and an attorney time to work things out with the foreclosure company. "Its a good thing to know you own a property." Now Eddy, his wife and his parents have a place to call home just in time for the birth of their first child. "Now they have their American dream as you put it. They have their home and they're excited."

Eddy Kadyrova says “thank you for helping. It’s our pleasure. We're glad it worked out. We appreciate it."

This case went before a Lackawanna County judge who granted a 30 day stay because she said this same thing happened to her father and believes these banks need to stop.