Homebuyer U

Free "New Homebuyers" two-part educational seminars sponsored by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and Florida Suncoast, Inc., offered 6-9 p.m. March 5 and 12 at American Legion Hall, 37745 Church Ave., Dade City; and 6-9 p.m. April 11 and 18 at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills. Topics include the advantages of home ownership, budgeting, whether to buy or build a home, credit reports, home inspections, the Pasco County Affordable programs and the closing process. Attendance at both class sessions required for certificate. For reservations and information, call (727) 845-5654 or toll-free 1-800-720-9537.

The Community Service Foundation offers free three-part money management classes, "Family Budgeting," for people who want to buy a house but are having trouble coming up with a down payment. Classes show how to develop a budget and how to save and provide a basic understanding of credit reports. Sequential classes held 7 to 9 p.m. March 5, 26 and April 2 at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg. Participants must attend and complete three-part class series to receive certificate. Please call (727) 461-0618 for reservations.

"Dream of Home Ownership," a free home-buying seminar, is offered by the Tampa Bay Community Development Corp. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 16 and April 13 at Ross Norton Community Center, 1426 S Greenwood Ave., Clearwater. The free daylong seminar covers such topics as how to choose a Realtor, home inspections and appraisals, loan applications, contracts and other documents and also the filing for homestead exemption. Participants receive box lunch and Homebuyer workbook. Call (727) 442-7075 to register, or for more information visit www.tampabaycdc.org. The Tampa Bay Community Development Corp. is approved by Department of Housing and Urban Development and is also a Fannie Mae approved Homebuyer Education Provider.

Those who find that buying a home can be a complicated and confusing process can attend "Insider Home-buying Strategies," a free seminar presented by Realtors Janice Lockridge-Williams and Nancy Burridge of Keller Williams Landmark Realty of St. Petersburg, 7 p.m. March 26 at Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Learn how lenders determine what kind of loan will be offered by evaluating the borrower's credit, how to better determine your credit worthiness and how to determine layout and furnishing needs to find a perfectly suited home and make a better home purchase. Handouts and notebook provided; to reserve, call (727) 422-7169 or (727) 894-1600, ext. 122 during business hours.

Thinking about buying a house but need to learn the basics? The Community Service Foundation offers free "Getting a Mortgage" classes designed to help first-time home buyers go through the process and qualify for down payment and closing costs assistance. Sequential two-part classes meet 6-9 p.m. March 12 and 19 at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg, and 6-9 p.m. April 4 and 11 at the Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd., Clearwater. Participants must complete two-part series to receive certificate of completion. A one-day class will be offered 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 2 at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. For registration or information, call (727) 461-0618, during business hours Mon.-Fri.

The Pinellas Housing Agency can tell first-time home buyers in the Clearwater, Largo and Dunedin areas whether they qualify for down payment assistance programs. Call (727) 467-9494.

First Worldwide Mortgage Corp. offers free seminars on how to buy a first house with little down payment and how to avoid common home-buying pitfalls, 10 a.m. to noon on selected Saturdays at 6450 Seminole Blvd., Seminole. Call (727) 398-7781 or (727) 798-1971 for additional information.

- Send items to Homes, Peggy Anders, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. The deadline for items in this column is two weeks before publication.

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