Crystal Purcell Cosentino Joins Home HeadQuarters as Deputy Executive Director

Please join us in welcoming Crystal Purcell Cosentino as Home HeadQuarters new Deputy Executive Director.  Ms. Purcell Cosentino was formerly the Planning and Economic Development Program Manager for the City of Auburn where she managed and coordinated the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.  In her new position, Ms. Purcell Cosentino will oversee all day-to-day operations of Home HeadQuarters including program management, lending, planning and real estate and organizational development.  Ms. Purcell Cosentino is a Greater Syracuse 40 under 40 recipient and winner of the 2007 Girl Scouts Women of Distinction Award.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Auburn Education Foundation and Matthew House.  Ms. Purcell Cosentino is a native of Central New York and holds a B.A. in Public Affairs: Ethics & Social Policy from Wells College and a MBA from St. John Fisher College. 

Home HeadQuarters--Behind the Scenes

Sometimes it’s not so easy to figure out how housing and community development services work in Syracuse. Often, local housing organizations work together to deliver the final product to families whether it’s a newly constructed or fully-rehabilitated house or counseling services or even construction training A few projects Home HeadQuarters is proud to be involved in, behind the scenes, include providing construction financing for multiple construction projects by Empire Housing as well as the latest Jubliee Homes project on Coolidge Avenue and a construction bridge loan to Gateway Community Development Corp. We’re also happy to provide construction training sites for YouthBuild crew members, an apprenticeship program run through Jubilee Homes and a construction subsidy for a Syracuse Model Neighborhood project on State Street.

US Senator Gillibrand Tours Near Westside

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand learns about the Near Westside Housing Plan from Alys Mann, Home HeadQuarters’ Director of Neighborhood Planning during a neighborhood tour earlier this month.

Ready, set, buy a house…

Owning a home had always been in Moe Outley’s long term plan for his family, he just wasn’t sure how or when it would happen. After attending a number of open houses with his wife Tia, they decided to get serious and approach their bank to find out about a loan. Their bank recommended they take advantage of Home HeadQuarters’ home purchase programs.  

Moe describes his experience as a first-time homebuyer as “less than a roller coaster and more like a speedster.” Just completing Home HeadQuarters’ Nationally-Certified Homebuyer Education course in November, the family raced full speed ahead and purchased their first home in the Skunk City neighborhood, closing on the house the first week of March.

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FBI: Most Mortgage Fraud Comes from Lenders, Not Borrowers

According to the FBI, homeowners and home buyers are responsible for only a small share of mortgage-related fraud -- about 80% is perpetrated by brokers or other professionals. This point and many other interesting facts are included in HUD’s recent “Report to Congress on the Root Causes of the Financial Crisis.”

Will You Leave a Legacy?

Maybe you volunteer, are a member of a board or give financial donations when you can to various causes and organizations that you believe in and support.  But what happens to your support when you pass away? One way to ensure continued support for a worthy not-for-profit organization is to include simple language in your will leaving an organization a specific sum of money, a specific asset or a percentage of your overall estate.  This costs nothing during your lifetime, is completely revocable by you and can reduce any estate taxes your estate may owe the government.  If you would like to learn more about leaving a gift in your will, please contact Karen Schroeder at 474-1939 x249 or via email at info@homehq.org.

Home of the Week!

251 Primrose Ave.
$59,000