REI Down Payment Assistance
REI Down Payment Assistance provides closing cost assistance to eligible borrowers through partnerships with lenders across the state. The programs are developed for people who have good jobs and the ability to re-pay a loan but have not been able to save for the down payment or closing costs on a home.
Our Team
Dena Sherrill
Director of Housingdsherrill@reiok.org
Dena Sherrill, the Director of Housing, joined REI Oklahoma in 1995 and soon after, spearheaded the team who developed REI Down Payment Assistance into a go-to resource for Oklahoma homebuyers and mortgage lenders. Her responsibilities include the direction, development, and management of REI housing programs including down payment assistance for single-family housing and lending for multi-family housing. She is certified by the National Development Council as a Housing Development Finance Professional and is an Oklahoma Real Estate Commission Certified Continuing Education Instructor. She currently serves on the Midwest Housing Development Fund Board and previously served nine years on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Oklahoma Mortgage Bankers Association and is the former president of the Durant Main Street Organization. In Dena’s free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Jeremy Layman
Housing Managerjlayman@reiok.org
Jeremy Layman is the Housing Manager and has worked for REI Oklahoma since 2006. Jeremy works with lenders, realtors, and homebuyers to help spread the word about REI Down Payment Assistance so that more hard-working Oklahoma families can realize the dream of homeownership. He also utilizes his background in data analysis to help oversee the reporting needs of the REI housing programs. Jeremy graduated with a degree in Marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and has lived in southeastern Oklahoma since 1998. He is a Housing Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council and is an Oklahoma Real Estate Commission certified Continuing Education Instructor. He currently lives on 20 acres with his twin daughters, Madison and Mackenzie. In the last few years, Jeremy has developed a strong interest in flying drones and is an FAA-licensed commercial drone operator for his own drone photography and videography company. In his spare time, Jeremy can often be found riding his tractor, running a chainsaw on his property, or flying a paramotor around Bryan County.
Alyssa Bowen
Housing Market Developerabowen@reiok.org
Alyssa Bowen is a Housing Market Developer who has been with REI Oklahoma since 2014. Alyssa provides analysis of loan funding packages as well as marketing for REI’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs. She works directly with lenders to train and educate them on the process of working with REI. She loves being able to spread the word about our housing programs in order to help Oklahomans reach their dreams of homeownership. When joining REI, Alyssa was new to the loan industry as she had been teaching English Language at a middle school in Italy. She is a Housing Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council, is an Oklahoma Real Estate Commission certified Continuing Education Instructor, and is a NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling Certified Homebuyer Education Instructor. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Journalism from the University of Arkansas and a Master’s Degree in American Studies from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Alyssa lives in Alva with her husband, Ryan, and their three fur babies. In her free time, she loves being a hunter, a writer, and Mrs. Coach for the NWOSU baseball team.
Hailey Perkins
Housing Data Specialisthperkins@reiok.org
Hailey Perkins is a Housing Data Specialist who has been at REI Oklahoma since 2015. Hailey is responsible for the preparation of monthly and yearly housing, board, and grant reports for all REI housing programs. Along with loan tracking, she also provides analysis of loan funding packages for the REI down payment programs. When many people believe that they cannot purchase their dream home, REI can make that possible, and Hailey loves that she gets to be part of that process. When she joined REI, Hailey had a lengthy background in the financial industry, working at one of the fastest growing banks in the southwestern United States. Hailey lives in Durant with her husband, Skyler, and their four children. In her spare time, she loves decorating, party planning, and spending quality time with her family. Born and raised in southeastern Oklahoma, Hailey is a graduate of Durant High School.
Brent Blackburn
Housing Data Specialistbblackburn@reiok.org
Brent Blackburn is a Housing Specialist who joined REI Oklahoma in 2019. Brent is responsible for the review and analysis of the funding packages for REI down payment assistance programs as well as the servicing of and reporting on all REI second mortgage home loans. He also researches new funding sources and programs as it relates to single family and multi-family housing opportunities. Brent loves working for REI Down Payment Assistance because he knows that no matter what he has accomplished that day, each task completed has gone towards helping a family be able to have their own home where they will be making memories for years to come. Brent came to REI with twelve years of experience in the banking and loan industries. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and has completed advanced training in business finance, securities and investments, business statistics, and business policy. He is also a NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling Certified Homebuyer Education Instructor. Brent lives in Durant with his wife and their son as well as their three dogs and a temperamental cat. When he has free time, he enjoys traveling to new places and spending time with his family.