Homebuyer U
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 23, 2002
Those who find that buying a home can be complicated and confusing 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. Tues. and April 23 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, how to determine layout and furnishing needs to find a perfectly suited home and make a better home purchase and other topics. Handouts and notebook provided; to reserve, call: (727) 422-7169 or (727) 894-1600, ext. 122 during business hours.
The Community Service Foundation offers free "Family Budgeting," three-part money management classes 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 save and provide a basic understanding of credit reports. Sequential classes held 7 to 9 p.m. April 3, April 17, May 1 at Foundation Village Neighborhood Family Center, 918 Woodlawn St., Clearwater. Sequential classes also held 7 to 9 p.m. April 23, May 7, May 28 at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg. Participants must attend and complete three-part class series to receive certificate. Call (727) 461-0618 for reservations.
The Community Service Foundation's free "Getting a Mortgage" classes are 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 to 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. To register or for information, call (727) 461-0618, during business hours Mon.-Fri.
Free "New Homebuyers" two-part educational seminars sponsored by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and the Florida Suncoast, Inc., offered from 6 to 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. Attendance at both class sessions required for certificate. For reservations and information, call (727) 845-5654 or (800) 720-9537.
"Dream of Home Ownership," a free home-buying seminar, is offered by the Tampa Bay Community Development Corp. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 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 a Fannie Mae-approved Homebuyer Education Provider.
The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Florida Suncoast, Inc., sponsors a free "New Homebuyers" two-part educational seminar from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 22 and 29 at Largo Library, 351 East Bay Drive, Largo. Topics include the advantages of home ownership, budgeting for a home, credit reports, home inspections, the closing process, home ownership responsibilities and affordable housing options. Attendance at both class sessions required for certificate. For reservations and information, call (727) 587-6715, ext. 2507.
"Road Map to Ownership" seminar from 6-10 p.m. Tuesdays at Century 21 East Lake Realty, Shoppes at Boot Ranch, 782 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor, covers such topics as getting prequalified for a home and provides information on Fannie Mae and other helpful aids to prepare you in finding and purchasing your new home. Includes "Buyer's Guide Book" manual. Free, but reservations required. To register, call (727) 409-4583.
Get answers to questions about what role credit plays in home buying and what to do about imperfect credit at free seminar presented by American Spirit Mortgage, 36477 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor at 6:30 p.m. on selected Tuesdays. Seminar covers all aspects of buying and selling real estate and each step of home buying, from qualifying for a loan to closing. Reservations required, call (727) 772-7638.
First Worldwide Mortgage Corp. offers free seminars on how to buy your first home, how to purchase a house with little down payment and how to avoid common home-buying pitfalls, plus information on the difference between FHA and VA loans; 10 a.m. to noon on selected Saturdays at 6450 Seminole Blvd., Seminole. Call (727) 398-7781 or (727) 798-1971 for information.
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.
-- Send items to Homes, Peggy Anders, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. The deadline is two weeks before publication.
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