Blog

Save Our Home AZ - 2 day event April 26-27, 2012

2012-04-19T22:22:48Z

HOC is participating in the 2-day Save Our Home AZ event sponsored by Arizona Department of Housing. Families can meet with Housing Counselors to determine if they are eligible for foreclosure prevention assistance through the state program. Click on the link for more details. See you there! http://www.azhousing.gov/calendar_details.aspx?ID=249

Arizona Homebuyer Fair - April 28, 2012

2012-04-19T22:16:35Z

HOC will be participating in a county-wide Homebuyer Expo coming up on April 28, 2012 open to the public held at the Phoenix Convention Center - click on the link for more details http://cplc.org/events/nsp-2-events.aspx

New ShipShape program through Starboard Financial

2011-09-01T20:05:54Z

Starboard Financial, the leader in customer service and mortgage lending, is launching a new program called ShipShape. This product will provide clients with an edge on the current real estate market! Provides up to $25,000 in repairs along with a fixed, low interest rate 30-year mortgage...can it get any better? HOC is hosting a training session coming up on September 12th for Realtors - all those interested can email Stacy@housingourcommunities for more info and to be added to the list for all HOC realtor training sessions.

Save Homeownership Campaign 2011

2011-08-01T21:37:20Z

HOC creates generational wealth. Not just in providing down payment assistance, knowledge of purchasing a home, but sustaining homeownership that will ultimately effect the lives of children. Read this touching letter from a very special person, Erica Mancinas, who has become a summer intern for HOC while going through college. Her story touches us all and reminds us all of the importance of safe, affordable, and sustainable homeownership.

The Brisolara Family : Experience with HOC

2011-07-12T05:09:59Z

"After my wife and I were married, we moved into a little place where we rented for five years. During that time our family grew and we were blessed with two wonderful children. As we began to outgrow our apartment we started to notice many of our friends moving into homes of their own. My wife and I discussed many times how amazing it would be to someday buy a house for our family. Sadly, it felt like a dream that awaited us in the distant future. We felt that we lacked the confidence and especially the financial ability to purchase a home. One day, in talking with a friend, she mentioned a program that her family had found called Housing Our Communities. She explained that the program gave home ownership preparation classes along with down payment assistance to those looking to purchase a home. It sounded a little too good to us to be true, but we decided to investigate nonetheless. After our first introductory meeting, we left astonished at what we had stumbled upon. We enrolled in the program immediately and begin to move through the wonderful process this company has organized. The classes were very educational and gave us the knowledge and confidence we needed to feel good about pursuing a home of our own. Later we were assigned a realtor and began to look at houses. We eventually found a beautiful home exactly like the untouchable dream house we had talked about so many times in the past. Housing our communities helped us with financial assistance so that we were able to purchase this home for our family. It is impossible to describe all the ways that Housing Our Communities brought this dream to life for us. It is a program too good to be true but is in reality everything we could have hoped for and more. We are so thankful to Housing Our Communities and the wonderful people there that make the program so incredible. Thank you for helping our family so that we can live in a beautiful home of our own."

Sincerely,

Adam Brisolara

West Valley offers Free Home Maintenance Education - March 1st

2011-02-02T17:20:25Z

Avondale Public Information Office

For immediate release: February1, 2011

Media Contact: Pier Simeri, Public Information Office 623.333.1611

Free Course in Basic Home Maintenance Offered

The cities of Avondale, Buckeye and Goodyear are partnering to offer a free course in basic home maintenance! Scheduled for March 1, the class will be taught by Mr. Handyman of the West Valley. The class runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will be held at 195 N. 145th Avenue, Bldg D in the Venida Office Complex in Goodyear.

During the two hour course, participants will learn the major systems (structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC) and components of their home, and how to properly care for and maintain them. Participants will also learn how and where to turn off electrical power or the main water line in an emergency, and how to identify the critical safety areas in the home.

Space is limited. Call (623) 882-7812 to register.

A Challenge from HOC - Pay it Forward

2010-11-22T23:35:20Z

HOC challenges you in the last month of December 2010 to give back in your community. Make giving a priority in your life - whether it means volunteer on a neighborhood clean up, a rehab project, or donate to an organization that matches the mission in your life. As you reflect on 2010, what will be the most memorable? Does that include your favorite non-profit or charitable organization? Here are some quotes that inspire our organization and those that work and volunteer with us.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

It is the willingness of people to give themselves over & above the demands of the job that distinguishes the great from merely adequate organization ~Peter Drucker

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give ~ Winston Churchill

Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud. ~Helen Dyer

Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life's blood. But everyone has something to give."
-Barbara Bush-

I hope these quotes inspire you to volunteer. To donate. To pay it forward.

Save my Home AZ - State launches new program

2010-09-27T21:34:01Z

Save My Home AZ will provide foreclosure prevention assistance to qualified Arizona homeowners. Your lender must agree to participate in the program. Housing Our Communities is a participating counseling agency. If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure, please visit the website
http://www.azhousing.gov/ for more information and to view program qualifications.

HOC Volunteer of the Year 2010

2010-08-31T21:48:33Z

HOC would like to introduce our 2010 Volunteer of the Year, Maria Jaramillo. Through her membership with Americorps, Maria has been volunteering for HOC for a year and has completed 900 hours assisting HOC with outreach, marketing, client services, homebuyer education, etc. She has been a great member of our team and HOC can only hope that she remains as an HOC voluneer in the future. If you would like to find out more about volunteering for HOC, call us today! Call the office 480.649.1335 and ask for Stacy or Brenda.

The Need

2010-08-10T15:57:20Z

HOC’s homebuyer education and housing counseling de-mystifies the confusing process for first-time buyers giving clients the knowledge to make wise consumer choices, access affordable financing and avoid predatory lenders. Not only are educated/counseled buyers less likely to end up with unfair loans, they are also better prepared for the responsibilities of homeownership and 26% less likely to default (Freddie Mac, Hirad and Zorn, May 2001). By making the homebuying process more accessible and less intimidating, homebuyer education increases independence and self-sufficiency for lower-income families. This is important because homeownership represents the best possible opportunity for disadvantaged groups to build family wealth and economic security.

In fact, compared to renters of the same age, income and race, homeowners are 12 times wealthier, accumulating an average of $44,000 in home equity during the first 10 years of homeownership. Children of homeowners have 9% higher math scores and 7% higher reading scores. Moreover, they are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 115% more likely to graduate from college than similar children of renters. They are 20% less likely to become teenage mothers and have 3% fewer behavior problems. In addition to the security and independence lower-income households gain from homeownership, the entire community benefits from the increased social and economic stability homeownership provides.