SANFORD — He didn’t say much of anything about it, but it was pretty evident that Trace Thibault really likes running full tilt from his house to the tree at the end of the family property. He shinnied up Friday morning and was coaxed down by his father, Joshua, just in time for a family photograph.

At the same time, three or four of his brothers were in the garden, sampling cherry tomatoes and eyeing the blooms on the hydrangea bush, as if they were wondering if it would be a wise idea to pick them.

The Thibault family is home ”“ at last. Home, after 16 or 17 moves from one rental property to another in 14 years, with the last move brought on when the lender foreclosed upon their landlord.

The Thibaults, Joshua and Melly and their seven children ”“ there are eight now, with the arrival of little Caedmon two months ago ”“ closed on their Vaness Street property Jan. 28 just days before they were going to have to move.

And they did it with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development direct loan program.

“We’re thankful we’re in our own place now,” said Joshua Thibault.

According to Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel, the Thibaults’ 30-year mortgage is around $600 a month; they’d been paying about $900 a month rent for the duplex.

The USDA Rural Development program finances one in every five homes in Maine, either through loan guarantees or the direct loan program for single family dwellings. Manuel said since 2000, Rural Development has financed about 20,000 Maine homes and currently finances about 2,000 homes annually.

“It’s the stability,” said Joshua Thibault, “not wondering where you’re going to be next month.”

He said their last three rentals were either beset by landlord issues or foreclosed.

“We lived out of boxes for a long time,” he said.

He said some of their moves over the years were their own choice, and some weren’t. Melly was in labor with one of their children when their landlord told them he was in foreclosure.

And for many years, Thibault said he worked seasonally, which didn’t help the family’s chances at financing a home. He said they were living in northern New Hampshire when the wife of a selectman for the town where he was working told him he should consider entering the health care field.

“I’m a nursing assistant and I love it,” said Thibault. “It gives us a consistent income and lifestyle ”¦ and I like to help others.”

Eventually, he said he’d like to be a registered nurse.

Melly Thibault homeschools their children.

“Thanks to everyone for their help,” she said.

Manuel said those applying for a direct loan undergo the same credit worthiness checks as a bank would perform. She said there are about 200 to 300 direct loans made to homebuyers annually in Maine, with the remaining 1,700 financed through loan guarantees.

The couple took a homeowner’s class at York County Community Action and then applied to Rural Development.

“We’re thrilled for you,” YCCAC Director Barbara Crider told the family. “You did the hard work and you’re paying the mortgage.

“If you own your own home, you’re beginning to own your future,” Manuel said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.