First-Time Home Buyers Can Sign Up Now For Home Buyers Club

Last updated on Thursday, April 10, 2014

(BLOOMINGTON) - The City of Bloomington’s Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) Department’s Home Buyers Club workshop offers participants a chance to learn how to become successful homeowners.

Registration is now open for the next Home Buyers Club. The workshop meets on consecutive Saturdays, April 26 and May 3 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in City Hall McCloskey Room, Suite 135, 401 N. Morton St.

The program helps first-time home buyers understand and overcome the obstacles involved in realizing the American dream of home ownership. Presenters include HAND's HUD-certified housing counselors, local real estate industry professionals and non-profit housing providers within the community.

Participants will receive the HAND-produced book "Buying a Home: a Guide for First Time Home Buyers" and an opportunity to meet with a HAND housing counselor to develop a personalized home-buying action plan. Income-eligible graduates of the workshops may be eligible for up to $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance from HAND and other assistance programs.

Topics of the workshop include:

Is home ownership right for you?
Developing a household budget and savings plan
The importance of having and establishing good credit
The home buying process from start to finish
The importance of home inspections
Mortgage application process and down payment assistance programs
Home maintenance and protecting your investment
Accessing community and neighborhood housing resources

The Home Buyers Club is offered to anyone in the community at no cost, however, class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, please call HAND at 349.3401.

The Home Buyers Club is sponsored in part by MainSource Bank and Fifth Third Bank.

For more information, contact Assistant Director Marilyn Patterson at 349.3401 or hand@bloomington.in.gov. More information can also be found on the website at www.bloomington.gov/hand.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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