Home HeadQuarters Welcomes New FlexFund Participants

A big welcome and thank you to NBT Bank and ACMG Federal Credit Union for their participation and support of Home HeadQuarters’ FlexFund Home Improvement Loan Program. The loan fund, which provides affordable home improvement dollars to new homeowners who have not yet built enough home equity to borrow against, is made possible through the participation of more than 15 local banks and credit unions.

For more information on home improvement loans click here »

New Single-Family Home Construction

The hammers are flying at a number of locations throughout the city on new single-family homes--many slated for a 2009 completion. If you’re interested in city living, and prefer something brand new, call Daniel in our office at 474-1939 x243.

New construction locations:

• 132 Hall Ave
• 127 Shuart Ave
• 109 Woodland Ave
• 135 W. Kennedy St.
• 217 W. Kennedy St.
• 160 W. Newell St.
• 221 N. Lowell

For more information and photos click here »

Near Westside Update

An unsafe, derelict property on the 500 block of Tully finally came down last week to make room for new construction. Construction on the new home, designed by students from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture, is slated to begin this summer.

Exempt Income Protection Act (EIPA)

As of January 1, 2009, the new Exempt Income Protection Act (EIPA) is now in place to protect consumers who may have run afoul of creditors. In the past, creditors have had a legal right to attach or essentially freeze a debtor's bank account in order to collect a debt. Some "safety-net" funds like disability payments through state and federal laws are exempt from being seized, but the existing laws didn’t protect these funds from being attached to the claim. The account holder received no advance notice and needed to obtain a court order to lift the restraint.

The new Exempt Income Protection Act (EIPA) protects the first $2,500 in a consumer's bank account from being frozen by creditors if the consumer receives Social Security benefits or other government safety-net income. It also creates a $1,716 cushion for debtors who don't receive government help. Creditors must now also prove that funds are not exempt if the account holder claims they are and have a specified number of days to present their proof.

Exempt payments include social security benefits; certain types of child support payments; spousal support; veterans administration benefits; public assistance; workers' compensation; unemployment insurance; public or private pensions; railroad retirement; black lung benefits; college tuition trusts and life insurance.

New BPI-Certified Contractor

Thanks to a grant from The U.S. Small Business Administration to Home HeadQuarters, Lyndon Edwards, owner and president of ACT II Construction, is now a newly accredited BPI (Building Performance Institute) contractor. The U.S. SBA grant provided funding for BPI training through New York State that will provide Mr. Edwards and other certified contractors with the tools necessary to gauge Syracuse residents’ home energy performance.

House of the Week-For Sale

1700 S. State Street
$63,000

• Full renovation
• 3 large bedrooms
• 1 bath
• Beautiful hardwoods
• Off-street parking
• Covered Porch
• Unfinished attic space with endless possibilities
• No household income restrictions

To see more homes for sale click here »

Home HeadQuarters is a not-for-profit organization committed to creating housing and related opportunities that improve the lives of underserved Central and Upstate New York people and revitalize the communities in which they live. Established in 1996, Home HeadQuarters offers Nationally-certified Homebuyer Education for first time homebuyers, financial and homeownership counseling, Foreclosure Prevention and real estate planning and development. Home HeadQuarters is also one of the largest regional providers of affordable home and energy improvement loans and grants to area homeowners.