Perris family behind on mortgage gets help in time for Christmas

PERRIS, Calif. (KABC) -- It's a busy time of year for Santa, but Thursday afternoon, he paid a special visit to a family in Perris.

For Maria and Valentine Mendoza, it's a gift that will allow them to celebrate the holidays for years to come in their home.

"I was never, ever expecting such a miracle," said Maria Mendoza.

Like many families in the Inland Empire, the Mendoza family fell on hard times after Valentine Mendoza lost his job, and the couple fell way behind on their mortgage.

It's more than piece of land: It's where the couple was married, built a home and now raise their 6-year-old daughter.

But this past July, their home was on the brink of foreclosure.

The Mendozas reached out to the Fair Housing Council of Riverside for help and advice. Last week, their foreclosure prevention specialist called with some news the couple at first thought was a joke.

"I would never play a joke on someone like this, but I'm telling the truth, there is a company that wants to pay the mortgage payments that your behind and bring you current so you don't lose your home," said Maria Wells with the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County.

Movoto Realty picked the family, who met their guidelines.

"I'm very grateful this is a miracle," Valentine Mendoza said, in Spanish.

Santa Claus dropped in on the family with his elf to deliver the check for their missed payments.

"Movoto is going to pay everything that we were behind," said Maria Mendoza, as she cried.