Your Intermittent News & Updates |
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25 Years, 10,000 First-Time Homebuyer Graduates, 900 Properties, 15 Official Block Blitzes, One Pandemic, $120 Million in Home Improvement Loans & Grants & Countless Replacement Furnaces, New Roofs, Fixed Porches, Remodeled Bathrooms... |
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...and More!
When you've been around for 25 years, the numbers begin to look so big that it's hard to get your arms around them. What does $120 million look like? Well, it looks like more than 11,200 of your favorite friends, family and neighbors making needed improvements to their homes--some you can see like new roofs and painting, and others you can't see like new hot
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How many tabling events have HHQ employees (and kids!) participated in over the last 25 years? We've lost count, but we know that Andrew [pictured left] and Justin Quaglia "staffing" the HHQ table at the health fair pictured above are now 25 and 27 years old! |
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water tanks or needed fixes to plumbing. In whatever kind of case, HHQ has helped finance more home improvements in our community than just about anyone!
This month begins Home HeadQuarters 25th year as a non-profit housing and community development organization dedicated to filling those kinds of housing needs for Central New York homeowners. We probably won't throw a big shindig until the end of our celebratory year, but we will definitely post as many obnoxious, old photos as we can lay our hands on in the meantime. If you have a photo or story to share, please let us know. Thanks CNY for helping us make a meaningful difference!
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Resurgent Neighborhoods Initiative
Kicks into Gear with First Houses SOLD
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While our construction crew is still putting the final touches on the first houses in the city's Resurgent Neighborhoods Initiative in the Lincoln Hill neighborhood, two, first-time homebuying families have already made up their minds to purchase.
Framing for the next round of houses on Syracuse's Southside began during our late April snowstorm (the crew LOVED it!) and that stage is expected to finalize in a few weeks (barring any additional feet of snow).
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New Elmwood Neighborhood
Homeowner Already Planning the BBQ
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Luis Maldonado says Home HeadQuarters made things easy. A friend told him about the great experience she had purchasing a home with HHQ's help so he listened ("because she is right about everything," he says) and he got started.
He's looking forward to putting in a vegetable garden, getting to know his neighbors and building on the security that comes with knowing his kids will one day call this house their own. Just days after moving in, a neighbor surprised Luis with a cake and card welcoming him to the neighborhood. He is waiting for the weather to get nice so he can grill out and extend an invite to his new neighbors.
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HHQ Welcomes New Accounting
and Account Servicing Staff
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Home HeadQuarters recently welcomed two new employees to its Accounting and Account Servicing teams: Kevin Schoon (pictured left) as an Account Services Specialist and Talika Rice as a Staff Accountant.
Kevin is already in the "top 3" for receiving phone calls at HHQ as he helps customers find their loan balances, pay off amounts and works to discharge liens. He especially likes that everyday at HHQ is different from the rest and that he gets to work directly with customers. When he's not posting payments and answering HHQ-related questions, he likes to trade stocks, keep up with his kids on his skateboard and listen to music. As Kevin says, "I'm pretty awesome."
Talika joins HHQ directly from Bryant & Stratton's accounting program to assist with accounts payable and special accounting projects. Talika started her professional career in the nursing field and stayed for 10 years, but says that accounting always interested her, "I've always been a numbers person and like the way accounting keeps your brain working." Talika just finished taking the Home HeadQuarters' HomeBuyer Education Course and working with the financial counselors with the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center so she is looking forward to moving into a house with her kids in the near future.
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¿Estás cansado de pagar el alquiler? |
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¿Estás cansado de pagar el alquiler? ¿Quieres tu propia casa? ¿Quieres mejorar tu crédito? Luego, inscríbase en nuestra clase de educación para compradores de vivienda de 8 horas, que se imparte en español, donde le enseñaremos las herramientas básicas que necesita para ser un propietario exitoso. El próximo curso de educación para compradores en casa en español comienza el 4 de mayo y se lleva a cabo los martes y jueves por la noche.
Comuníquese con Priscilla en nuestra oficina al (315) 474-1939 o por correo electrónico a info@homehq.org y solicite un descuento de clase especial.
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Syracuse FEC Client Carlos Santos is Setting Himself Up for Success! |
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Carlos Santos had some plans, but his finances were getting in his way. Tired of struggling to pay his bills on time, Carlos set up a free appointment with Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center Financial Counselor Kazmira Pitzrick.
"I wanted to set myself up for success and I wanted to be able to save for a house."
Carlos has now had several free sessions and plans to continue working with his financial counselor indefinitely. He's created different savings for different things, paid off his car and feels that he is on the right track to becoming a homeowner.
As Carlos says, "Everyone should have a financial counselor! The FEC has made a huge difference in my life. I would say to all that are curious about how the FEC can help--REACH OUT!"
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Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance
Available May 1!
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Eligible Homebuyers looking to purchase a home in Syracuse, Onondaga County and throughout Central New York, may qualify for up to $9,000 in Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance.
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1% Home Improvement Loans
for Homeowners
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HHQ has 1% home improvement loans for many different towns and neighborhoods throughout Onondaga County. What does 1% mean? It means you only pay 1% of the total loan in interest (compare that to a home improvement store credit card at 17.99% to 26.99%!). Check our Homeowners Loans & Grants webpage to see if your house is in a target area!
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Homebuyer Education
"Live & Local"
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Homebuyer Education Classes are coming up May 4th, both in English and Spanish. The "Live & Local" versions of the 8-hour course offers local real estate, mortgage, home inspection and legal experts presenting in class. Class certificates that you receive after completing the course and meeting with a certified housing counselor are a requirement for most first-time homebuyer programs.
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Thom Dellwo, the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center's Counselor from Cooperative Federal will review available Income Driven Repayment Programs, the ways they can lead to all or some student loan forgiveness, and how you can enroll in them even if your loans are in default. Find out about potential scams to avoid, particularly companies that offer to help you “consolidate your loans” for a fee.
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We Like Big Signs and We Cannot Lie |
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