Ukiah hosts foreclosure workshop
November 10, 2009
Ukiah Daily Journal
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, working with the Mendocino/Lake Housing Foreclosure Prevention Coalition, is hosting a free Community Housing Forum on Saturday, November 21 in Mendocino and Lake counties. Special guests for the events include Rep. Mike Thompson (D- Napa Valley) and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata).
The foreclosure prevention and first-time homebuyer workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah with afternoon presentations at the Lakeport Fairgrounds beginning at 1:30 pm. Presentations will be offered in English and Spanish. Refreshments will be provided.
"The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is looking forward to helping consumers who are confronted with critical housing issues," says Dwight Alexander, Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, FHLBank San Francisco. "We know many families need counseling on what to do when they fall behind on their mortgages. And there are also families who need advice on their first home purchase," says Alexander.
Local event sponsors include the Mendo Lake Credit Union, Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority, Redwood Credit Union, Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation, Savings Bank of Mendocino County and The Bogner Group. The workshop has been a year in the making, according to organizers.
"My office has been working for the last year with local lenders, housing counselors, legal advocates and others to assist first time homebuyers and those who may be facing foreclosure," said Rep. Thompson. "This forum will help address the foreclosure crisis by providing people with information and getting questions answered by experts," notes Rep. Thompson.
Assemblyman Chesbro agreed, saying, "We are grateful to our community institutions for providing their time and resources to help others. We're hoping these counseling sessions provide sound advice so families can avoid losing their homes."
The demand for foreclosure counseling is high because of the alarming number of local foreclosures. Currently in Mendocino County, there are 230 homes in pre-foreclosure, 236 bank-owned properties and 188 set for auction, according to the Realist real estate information service. The numbers for Lake County are significantly higher.
Ruth Valenzuela, member and co/founder of the Mendocino/Lake Housing Foreclosure Prevention Coalition notes that resources to assist homeowners are virtually nonexistent.
"We met with business leaders, lenders, and representatives of housing and government agencies, to develop cooperative solutions to portions of the problem. We don't have enough HUD approved counselors to assist even a small percentage of people in need, and no funds to develop more," Valenzuela notes.
Erika Holzhauer, RCHDC property development specialist says that postcards have been sent to all recipients of a Notice of Default.
"We want people to know they are not alone. The FHL Bank is coming to our community to help," she notes. "The Bank representatives come in full force."
Presentations, take-home materials and opportunities for questions and answers will be provided at the workshop.
Homeowners seeking assistance from HUD-certified housing or legal services counselors at the workshop must bring two current pay stubs, two most recent W-2 forms, four most recent monthly bank statements if they are self-employed, most recent mortgage statement, recent correspondence with the lender and a list of monthly expenses.
Those interested in buying their first home are also encouraged to attend, according to Holzhauer. "There are many options for first-time homebuyers. We want to help everyone reach for the American Dream and keep it," she notes.
Those attending may register at www.fhlbsf.com. For assistance by phone with foreclosure issues, Hope for Homeowners may be reached at 888-995-4673.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, working with the Mendocino/Lake Housing Foreclosure Prevention Coalition, is hosting a free Community Housing Forum on Saturday, November 21 in Mendocino and Lake counties. Special guests for the events include Rep. Mike Thompson (D- Napa Valley) and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata).
The foreclosure prevention and first-time homebuyer workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah with afternoon presentations at the Lakeport Fairgrounds beginning at 1:30 pm. Presentations will be offered in English and Spanish. Refreshments will be provided.
"The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is looking forward to helping consumers who are confronted with critical housing issues," says Dwight Alexander, Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, FHLBank San Francisco. "We know many families need counseling on what to do when they fall behind on their mortgages. And there are also families who need advice on their first home purchase," says Alexander.
Local event sponsors include the Mendo Lake Credit Union, Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority, Redwood Credit Union, Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation, Savings Bank of Mendocino County and The Bogner Group. The workshop has been a year in the making, according to organizers.
"My office has been working for the last year with local lenders, housing counselors, legal advocates and others to assist first time homebuyers and those who may be facing foreclosure," said Rep. Thompson. "This forum will help address the foreclosure crisis by providing people with information and getting questions answered by experts," notes Rep. Thompson.
Assemblyman Chesbro agreed, saying, "We are grateful to our community institutions for providing their time and resources to help others. We're hoping these counseling sessions provide sound advice so families can avoid losing their homes."
The demand for foreclosure counseling is high because of the alarming number of local foreclosures. Currently in Mendocino County, there are 230 homes in pre-foreclosure, 236 bank-owned properties and 188 set for auction, according to the Realist real estate information service. The numbers for Lake County are significantly higher.
Ruth Valenzuela, member and co/founder of the Mendocino/Lake Housing Foreclosure Prevention Coalition notes that resources to assist homeowners are virtually nonexistent.
"We met with business leaders, lenders, and representatives of housing and government agencies, to develop cooperative solutions to portions of the problem. We don't have enough HUD approved counselors to assist even a small percentage of people in need, and no funds to develop more," Valenzuela notes.
Erika Holzhauer, RCHDC property development specialist says that postcards have been sent to all recipients of a Notice of Default.
"We want people to know they are not alone. The FHL Bank is coming to our community to help," she notes. "The Bank representatives come in full force."
Presentations, take-home materials and opportunities for questions and answers will be provided at the workshop.
Homeowners seeking assistance from HUD-certified housing or legal services counselors at the workshop must bring two current pay stubs, two most recent W-2 forms, four most recent monthly bank statements if they are self-employed, most recent mortgage statement, recent correspondence with the lender and a list of monthly expenses.
Those interested in buying their first home are also encouraged to attend, according to Holzhauer. "There are many options for first-time homebuyers. We want to help everyone reach for the American Dream and keep it," she notes.
Those attending may register at www.fhlbsf.com. For assistance by phone with foreclosure issues, Hope for Homeowners may be reached at 888-995-4673.