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 April, 2008  Home HeadQuarters ranked in NeighborWorks® America’s Top 25Home HeadQuarters was one of the top 25 producers in the NeighborWorks® Network of more than 230 housing organizations for its rehabilitation, homeownership and housing investment efforts according to NeighborWorks® America, a national nonprofit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for community-based revitalization efforts. Of all the NeighborWorks® Network members throughout 50 states, Home HeadQuarters was the number one producer of home rehabilitations for existing homeowners. New Neighborhood 1% Home Improvement Loans AnnouncedThe Court-Woodlawn, South Valley and Eastwood neighborhoods are the recipients of the latest rounds of Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative (SNI) 1% Home Improvement funding. The federal SNI dollars, made available through Congressman Walsh and approved by Mayor Driscoll and the Common Council, buy down the interest rate of Home HeadQuarters’ existing FlexFund Home Improvement loans to 1% and are available to homeowners within the targeted neighborhood for exterior repairs and improvements. Once the funding goes through the required federal approval process, both the Court-Woodlawn and South Valley neighborhoods will have public rollouts where applications will be available. For Eastwood residents, those people that are currently on the waiting list from the first round of funding will receive applications if they are still interested in participating. Syracuse City Living The 11th annual Syracuse City Living event is set for Saturday, May 3rd, 12-3pm, at Lincoln Middle School on James Street. So far, the home purchase experts who will be sharing the latest information on everything it takes to buy a home in Syracuse are:
If you haven’t yet signed up to exhibit or know of someone else who should be involved, please email info@homehq.org or call 474-1939 x249 no later than Friday, April 25th. Kelvin & DeniseFirst-time HomebuyersWhen Kelvin and Denise decided to purchase their first home, they had no idea what a challenge it would be in the beginning. Kelvin lost his job; then got a new one, but that still meant all the mortgage paperwork had to change. The couple had issues with their lawyer. They couldn’t schedule the closing in time to be in the house for the holidays. The entire interior of the home had to be repainted because as Denise recalls, “it had crazy colors in every single room.” And when they finally got into the home, none of their boys could sleep because it was all so new and exciting. But for all of the work and headaches, Kelvin and Denise feel that becoming homeowners was one of the best things they ever accomplished.  “We now have something that our boys will have for the next 30 or more years,” said Denise. “I know one day they will appreciate the hard work and responsibility that go into owning a house.” The hard work started for both Denise and Kelvin when they signed up for Home HeadQuarters’ nationally-certified Homebuyer Education Course. “We took the class, learned what to sign, what not to sign, what to be careful of and if we were truly ready for all of it,” said Denise. By graduating from the class, the couple also became eligible for $3,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance and financial counseling. “We’re a success story—a healthy and happy family living in their own lovely home in a good neighborhood—a nicely painted home,” she adds with a smile. Near Westside Update
Recently, students from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture presented their environmentally- and neighborhood-friendly design ideas to Near Westside residents, Near Westside Initiative members, Home HeadQuarters’ staff and others as the culmination of a studio class entitled “Renovation/Innovation” led by Lea Ciavarra and Ann Marie Lubrano from lubrano ciavarra design. The studio goals were to use three architectural examples of typical homes found in the city’s oldest neighborhood and incorporate green and energy efficient technologies as well as other design components and modern updates. Some ideas that the students proposed included more windows on south facing walls and “living walls” utilizing skylights that bring light through the interior of the home for better indoor air quality. Once the designs are complete, Home HeadQuarters will begin utilizing them in the rehabilitation of Near Westside homes. 5 Sisters Historic Facelift Almost Complete
Home HeadQuarters’ exterior rehabilitation of the gems of the Park Avenue neighborhood, or the 5 Sisters as they are known, is almost complete. The five Victorian homes just outside of Armory Square were in serious disrepair, some vacant for more than a decade. With funding made possible through the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative and assistance from Crawford & Stearns, CNY Builder Services and the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, the homes are sparkling once again.
Local developer and general contractor Time Cap Companies has purchased the homes from Home HeadQuarters and will restore the interiors to single-family residences available for sale to homeowners within the year. For more information on how to purchase one of these unique homes, please contact Time Cap at 463-0640.
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. |
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