Let the Sweating Begin!
 Are you ready? If not, now may be the time to start flexing those planting, painting, shoveling, hammering and check writing muscles because we have officially picked a date for this year’s Block Blitz:
Friday, September 16th, 9am-3pm
While we know we will again focus on the Near Westside, we still haven’t picked a second neighborhood. If you have suggestions for an area to target, want to sign up early, or hope to get out of sweating by sponsoring someone else to do the hard work, please contact Ali or Karen at 474-1939 x259 or info@homehq.org.
CDFI—Why it’s Important
With all the news about funding cuts, we thought it important to spotlight one source of funding in Central New York that really works and does exactly what so many programs strive to achieve. CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) funding creates and supports jobs while providing homeowners in underserved and distressed areas with needed home repair loans and first mortgage assistance.
CDFI funds are awarded through a competitive process through the U.S. Treasury to organizations that have undergone an exhaustive approval process and maintain high lending standards. CDFI funds are also unique in that they can assist middle-income families and the dollars remain in perpetuity, being loaned out again and again as they are repaid.
CDFI funds are slated to be cut by almost 50% in the proposed federal budget. Please call or email your Congressperson (find your representative's contact info here to voice your support for this worthy program or contact us if you would like more information at 474-1939 x249 or info@homehq.org.
Thank You to Bank of America!
Pictured Left to Right: Kerry Quaglia, HHQ Executive Director; Trish DeWalt, Bank of America Senior Mortgage Loan Officer; Laura Weinstein, VP; Community Relations Manager; Rickey Brown, HHQ HomeOwnership Center Manager
Big thanks to our friends at Bank of America for supporting our nationally-recognized HomeOwnership Center through which we offer HomeBuyer Education, financial and homeownership counseling and our Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance program for first time homebuyers.
House of the Week
 504 Niagara Street
Sales Price - $30,000
Home HeadQuarters has completed a full exterior renovation of this property, to historic standards. This includes all new windows, a new roof, repointed brick, rebuilt front and side porches and a brand new paint job.
This is a 2,208 square foot, two-family home with mixed-use potential. Located in the Near Westside neighborhood near St. Lucy's church and Nojaim Brothers' Market.
Looking for an interested buyer who is able to complete a full interior renovation. Must sumbit a proposal with your purchase offer that includes:
- Narrative of intended use
- Cost estimate for renovation (from a general contractor)
- Proof of funds to complete renovation
- Click here for more detail
Call Alison Jackson Popp at 474.1939 x259 or email info@homehq.org for more information or to set up a walk through.
Law Clinic Assistance
SU College of Law has availability in their Community Development Law Clinic (CDLC) which provides assistance to individuals who are involved in the real estate closing process and are unable to afford legal services.
Many of Home HeadQuarters' first-time homebuyers have utilized the Law Clinic with great success. The CDLC can assist with:
- Reviewing Purchase Contracts
- Examining a Property’s Abstract of Title
- Explaining the Documents Required for Closing
- Representation at Real Estate Closing
If interested in receiving free legal advice, contact Kelly Gonzalez at 443-4582 or kgonzale@law.syr.edu. The CDLC accepts clients until early April.
Bank Closings Tilt Toward Poor Areas
In 2010, for the first time in 15 years, more bank branches closed than opened across the United States according to a recent NY Times article. Overall, almost 1,000 bank locations closed from 2008 to 2010 mostly in areas where the median household income was below $50,000 per year. In contrast, 82 branches were added during the same period in neighborhoods where the median household income was above $100,000.
Congratulations & Thanks to…
Carol Mitteager of Laurens, New York who utilized our FlexFund Home Improvement Loan to put insulation in her ceilings and Nicole Tigner from Syracuse who took our HomeOwnership Education Course prior to purchasing her first home. Both Carol and Nicole won a $50 Lowes Gift Certificate for taking the time to answer our Customer Satisfaction Survey.
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