Living Free!

The Credit Report
by Millicent Harwell
Totally Free, Inc.

In my counseling experience, that now consists of thousands of people over the past eight years, I have been amazed at the number of individuals who, in the past 12 months, have not looked at their credit report. Some don’t know what a credit bureau is. Some have an idea, however cannot name the three credit bureaus. Then, there are a scattered few who have become familiar with the credit bureaus and their own credit reports.

Mortgage Lender Bruce Garrett speaks to over 30 prospective buyers on how to work with a lender during a Totally Free, Inc. Homebuyer Education Workshop on Saturday, November 14th. The workshops are held every second Saturday of the month from 9am – 5pm at Whispering Oaks Apartments on Tillman Street in Brunswick. (photos by Eliot VanOtteren)

Our nation’s creditors tend to report consumer behavior to three main bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian. Credit reports can be accessed from a number of venues including www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228. Both provide a way to recieve all three bureau reports once a year for free. Why not order yours today?

“By a show of hands, who’s ready to own a home?” asks Totally Free, Inc. President Millicent Harwell at Saturday’s workshop. Harwell encourages workshop attendees to plan accurately and take control of their finances. (photos by Eliot VanOtteren)

One urgent reason to become familiar with your credit reports is because identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our nation. I have found that at least one person in each of my workshops has been a victim of identity theft or has known someone who was victimized. There are many stories, too numerous to mention. Beside identity theft; mistaken identities, incorrect account balances, incorrect personal information, accounts not owned by you and other errors commonly surface on credit reports. These must be disputed utilizing forms enclosed with the credit reports, on the internet or by a letter detailing the dispute (with supporting information). The invest-igation must be completed by the bureau(s) with findings submitted in return in 30 days.

I often wonder what people would say if they saw one another with their credit reports posted on their foreheads. A credit report is a reflection of an individual’s financial character. For those who do not see their character reflected in their credit report, goals should be set to raise their score to one they would proudly wear.

If your credit is not at its best, now is a great time to start putting things back together. Make a plan for financial fitness, and pursue a clean financial slate. It may not happen overnight, but every step will bring you closer to your goal.

Here is what you will see when you order your own credit report: personal information, bankruptcies/liens/collections/judgments, payment history and inquiries affecting, and not affecting, your score. Make sure your personal information is correct. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a collection account. Medical debt is said to be the number one cause of bankruptcy in our nation. That is largely attributed to the high cost of medical care with limited insurance coverage. For households that are living from check-to-check, collection accounts become unavoidable.

Payment history shows how consistent one is with repayment of varying forms of credit. If there are open lines of credit, they should be paid in a timely manner. If balances are being carried from month to month, the goal should be to eliminate excess debt. Inquiries not affecting your score can be limited by opting out of pre-screened, unsolicited offers of credit and insurance (call 888-5-OPTOUT). Inquiries you approve by allowing a lender to pull your credit will decrease your credit score, depending on the type and frequency of the inquiry. Ordering a credit report on your own will not affect your credit score.

Be a person whose character is reflected in credit. Cherish your good name, or get on the path to repair it, setting goals for a clean credit report today.

Millicent Harwell is the President and Founder of Totally Free, Inc., a non-profit organization geared to bring financial freedom to those ensnared by the bondage of debt. Offering foreclosure prevention services, and homebuyer programs to encourage real estate investment. The State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded Millicent Harwell the 2005 Outstanding Homeownership Achievement Award for Excellence in Housing Counseling.

For additional information, please stop by our office at 2517 Norwich St. in Brunswick or call 912-265-1515.

www.totallyfreeinc.com

Affordable housing through Community Land Trust

by Andre’ Murray
Brunswick Housing Authority

In an effort to create homeownership opportunities, The Brunswick Housing Authority has formed a not-for-profit community land trust called Coastal Phoenix/Southeast Georgia Community Land Trust. SEGCLT was created out of a desire to beautify, enhance and provide affordable housing to residents of Glynn County. Great planning has gone into Coastal Phoenix to ensure housing that is affordable, comfortable and beautiful.

Due to rising land and housing costs, and a loss of affordable units, housing options are limited for those who live or work in Brunswick. Escalating land prices have also increased the number of teardowns, changing the character of many neighborhoods. By design, and by intent, the SEGCLT is committed to preserving affordability of housing one owner after another, one generation after another.

SEGCLT targets activities and resources toward charitable activities like providing affordable housing for low/moderate income families and redevelopment of blighted neighborhoods.

High cost of housing, income disparities, significant subsidy shortfalls, population growth, economic investment, disinvestment/absentee landlords, promoting gentrification/urban renewal and foreclosure prevention are just a few of the many reasons SEGCLT was created.

Through the Community Land Trust program, the homebuyer will own the buildings, structures, features and improvements. The homeowner has the opportunity for wealth accumulation through property ownership and shared appreciation agreement. The SEGCLT owns and leases the land to an eligible homebuyer for a per- iod of 99 years, renewable at leaseholder discretion, that is fully inheritable. Lenders finance the home purchase with a leasehold mortgage.

In other words, through the Land Trust the homebuyer is able to purchase a house without paying for the land it sits on, in order to make the house more affordable.

By holding land for the benefit of the community, SEGCLT counters increasing housing costs that are driven by rapidly appreciating land values. In addition, through the resale restrictions, SEGCLT maximizes the cost-effectiveness of the public and private investment used to make homes affordable to the first buyer, providing a fair return to the homeowner while ensuring continued affordability for succeeding buyers.

To request additional information about the Southeast Georgia Community Land Trust please contact Homeownership/Admissions Counselor Andre’ Murray at 912-265-1334 ext 108 or email homeownership@brunswickpha.org.

www.brunswickpha.org

Positive impact of homeownership on children

by Bert Brown
Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County, GA, Inc.

It is a tradition with Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County to dedicate a home after the mortgage is signed. At one of these dedications, a Habitat for Humanity director was having a conversation with one of the children of the new homeowners. The director asked, “What do you like best about the new house?” The young boy, about 7 years old, replied, “I like to eat when it rains.” The director inquired, “What do you mean by that?” The youngster said, “Where we lived before, every time it rained, Mom would have to use all the pots and pans to catch the rain that leaked in from the holes in the roof. She didn’t have anything to cook in.”

“They had written their names and the date, just like many others, to show the pride and joy of having a home of their own. They also wrote one other word. In very large letters, they wrote ‘BLESSED.’” (photo provided by Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County, Inc.)

At a build on Union Street, after the driveway was paved, the construction manager called the office and said that someone had written in the wet cement. In a panic, I went to the job site to see the damage. Thinking on the way that some neighborhood kids may have written something inappropriate – we had scheduled a Women’s Build the next day and my concern was that we would need to repave part of the driveway. I did find that some kids had written in the cement. It was the homeowner’s children. They had written their names and the date, just like many others, to show the pride and joy of having a home of their own. They also wrote one other word. In very large letters, they wrote “BLESSED.”

Many studies have been conducted concerning the impact of homeownership on the resident children. One major study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University concluded that children of homeowners have better home environments, higher cognitive skills and fewer behavior problems than do children of renters. The study quantified the results of the impact; children of homeowners when compared to renters had a 13–23 percent higher quality of home environment, nine percent higher math scores, seven percent higher reading scores and a reduction in children’s behavior problems of up to three percent.

In conversations with Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County’s homeowners, the above results are evident. The parents speak of these improvements in schoolwork and behavior. One homeowner said, “It’s night and day, the minute my daughter saw our new house being built and she saw her own bedroom being framed she changed. I was having problems with her behavior, but all that changed. Her grades have improved from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s.”

The mission of Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County is to eliminate substandard and overcrowded housing in Glynn County. We do it one family, one home at a time. Then, that one home has a ripple effect through the neighborhood and throughout our community; helping make Glynn County a better place to live for all of us.

Habitat for Humanity has built 67 houses in Brunswick-Glynn County. Housing applications are available at Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County at 41 Glynn Plaza in Brunswick, Georgia, weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm. The office is located in the Glynn Plaza Shopping Center at the corner of Altama and Community Roads. For further information on our housing programs, please call 912-265-7455 or email us at housing@habitatglynncounty.org.

www.habitatglynncounty.org

Community Housing Investment Program

by William Weeks
City of Brunswick

It is generally recognized that one of the biggest obstacles to the attainment of homeownership is the lack of affordable housing for the low-to moderate-income households of the City of Brunswick. Many in this situation are relegated to a lifetime of public housing, or annual rentals scattered throughout the city, and are never able to realize the dream of homeownership.

In 2008, the City of Brunswick Department of Community Development sought to begin in-roads to helping our lower-income, hard-working citizens achieve what had, until now, been unattainable. In July of 2008, the City was awarded a major grant through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs totaling $300,000, that amount to be matched by the City with $150,000. These funds were designed to provide “gap” financing in the form of 10-year forgivable loans up to a $30,000 limit. These loans are zero-interest, no payment loans that are completely forgiven if the homeowner remains in the house for 10 years. By taking advantage of the Community Housing Investment Program, potential homebuyers are able to reduce their monthly mortgage payments by $100 to $250, thereby bringing previously unaffordable homes within the scope of their budgets.

On Friday, November 13, this homeownership program closed on its first home. A 49-year-old custodian employed by the Glynn County School System was able to become a homeowner for the first time in her life. This is the first home in what the Department of Community Development hopes will become 15-20 homes over the course of the next six months.
To meet the program requirements, the home or new construction must be located within the city limits of Brunswick and meet all current building codes. Potential buyers need to earn below the household income limits for low-moderate income as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, successfully complete a homeownership education course, and be able to obtain a fixed-rate, FHA loan through a primary mortgage lender.

Any potential homebuyers that feel they meet the requirements described above are encouraged to contact the City of Brunswick Department of Community Development for additional information about qualifications and the process of attaining a homeownership dream!

For more information please contact “CHIP” Down Payment Assistance Program Coordinator Valerie Stallworth at 912-267-5530 or by stopping by City Hall located at 601 Gloucester Street in Brunswick.

Georgia Dream

by Sherrie Massie
Georgia Department of Community Affairs

Affordable mortgage products, including down payment assistance, are available to Glynn County residents through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Dream Homeownership Program.

Georgia Dream down payment options provide $5,000 to $10,000 in funding for down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers with household incomes at 80 percent or less of area median income. For a limited time a new option, Georgia Dream “PLUS”, offers $5,000 in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers with household incomes up to 115 percent of area median income.

As long as funding is available, or until June 2010, the Georgia Dream NSP Program provides Glynn County homebuyers $14,000 in down payment assistance for the purchase of eligible foreclosed properties with incomes up to 120 percent of area median income.

Georgia Dream mortgage products are available through participating lenders in the Glynn county area. Eligible borrowers must meet the credit requirements for an FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage loan.

For more information go to www.dcaloans.com or call 1-800-359-HOME.

Advice to first-time homebuyers

by James Vivenzio
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

There is good reason for homebuyers, first-time and otherwise, to be excited. In Glynn and the surrounding counties, there are plenty of houses on the market, sellers are negotiable like never before, and if having bad credit is not an issue, most banks want to do business with you.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, take a moment to read over the following checklist:

1. Find out how much you qualify for and can actually afford. Take the time to check your credit report. If you want a low interest rate on your loan, you need a good credit rating.

2. Go see a mortgage lender or broker. Get pre-approved and get it in writing. Make sure the monthly payments are at an amount you can handle comfortably. Once you get pre-approved you will know how much house you can shop for.

3. Make a wish list. Develop a priority list according to your wants and needs. That will lead you to buy the house that is right for you.

4. Get a good realtor to be on your team. Your realtor will be your best friend throughout this entire process. They’ll make sure you visit houses that are in your price range and fit your priorities list.

5. Check out the neighborhood. Once your realtor has identified properties for you to look at, cruise the neighborhood(s) to make sure that you and your family would feel comfortable living there.

6. Do a thorough home search. Look at homes in your price range and that meet your priority list criteria, then have your realtor do a comparative market analysis on the ones you may want to make an offer on. This way you can see if the asking price is reasonable and within market pricing.

7. Make an offer and do your due diligence. Have your realtor help you prepare the purchase and sale agreement and have them advise you on several inspectors (home, electrical, pest, plumbing, etc.) so that you take advantage of the due diligence period in the contract. Know what you are buying!

Gateway Behavioral Health Services presents Gateway Town Center

by Kenneth Adkins
Gateway Behavioral Health Services

The Gateway Coastal Village Supportive Housing Project is a 24-unit, multifamily housing development in unincorporated Glynn County. Gateway Town Center will serve women with children who are homeless, recovering from substance abuse and/or mental illness and who are very low income. Gateway Behavioral Health Services has determined through experience and research that persons with behavioral health disabilities need comprehensive supports and services to achieve housing stability. Currently, no such program exists in the area.

Gateway Town Center will serve women with children who are homeless, recovering from substance abuse and/or mental illness, and who are very low income. (Illustration provided by Gateway Behavioral Health Services)

This project is the first phase of a master planned development. The Supportive Housing Project will be co-located next to the planned Gateway’s outpatient and crisis residential center. Women will be referred to the program from Gateway’s programs and from community social service agencies. Necessary support services will be provided on-site and off-site, within walking distance, with the goal of minimizing and eliminating the primary and secondary factors of homelessness (mental illness, substance abuse, and unemployment). It is anticipated that the women may stay in the Town Center program for several years or longer if assisted housing and their disability point to their continuing need.

“The housing is just one part of a three phase project that is designed to be a therapeutic community. Safe and secure housing for people who are in recovery from substance abuse and/or mental illness,” said Gateway Administrative Director Barbara Meyers. “It’s going to allow them to receive services on-site, and at the same time be in a community where they can not only live, but have access to jobs and education,” she said.

Gateway Town Center will be located on land that bridges a residential area and a retail area. To the north and west are modest, established residential neighborhoods. To the south and east are retail buildings and strip shopping centers. Across Golden Isles Parkway to the east is Glynn Place Mall, a large regional shopping destination. All major services are within a mile of the project site.

Golden Isles Parkway to the east of the site is a major arterial road and provides access to both Interstate 95, less than a mile to the north, and downtown Brunswick, about 5 miles to the south. Because Glynn County has no public transportation system, the proximity to many retail shops and employment opportunities will be important for the Town Center’s residents.

Women will be referred to the program from Gateway’s outpatient and residential treatment programs and from community social service agencies. As described in the services plan, Gateway will provide and link the women and family members served in this program to individualized comprehensive wrap-around services. Gateway will also offer a wide range of individual, group and family services to help women achieve abstinence, improve quality of life and enhance their ability for economic self-sufficiency and productivity.

The Town Center is being funded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Glynn County and the federal Disaster Relief Fund. Construction has been underway for almost four weeks now since the October 29 groundbreaking for the 20-acre campus. Completion of the facilities is expected by March 1, 2010.

Gateway Behavioral Health Services is a publicly supported Community Service Board serving the coastal area of Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Long, Liberty, Bryan, Effingham, and Chatham counties. Since 1972, Gateway has provided community-based outpatient, day and residential services to adults and children with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems. Annually, it serves over 8,000 residents; with an estimated 10 percent identified as homeless.

For more information on the Gateway Town Center please contact Barbara Meyers at 912-554-8541 or visit www.gatewaybhs.org.

Professional home inspection

Know what you are buying
by Paul Forsyth
Real Property Inspections

In this market and economy, foreclosures on both new construction and pre-existing homes are abundant - with new arrivals coming monthly. This means that there are some extraordinary opportunities for potential homebuyers.

Foreclosures can come with conditions that are uncomfortable and downright intimidating, but should not be ignored as a possible option. Often times a pre-existing foreclosure is being purchased in an “as is” condition, or a new construction foreclosure is sold with no warranties or guarantees. Being faced with these conditions for the purchase of a lifetime can dampen the spirits of the most brave and seasoned of homebuyers, let alone the first-time buyer.

Don’t be intimidated by all the terms and conditions that the banks are throwing at you. Let your real estate agent take care of those details! The simple fact is that before you buy, find out what it is you are buying.

Have a qualified professional inspect the interior, exterior structure and mechanicals of the home to determine if it meets your expectations. Knowing the condition of the home is your first step in determining if the home is right for you and your personal needs.

There is a notion that an inspection is not necessary if the property is an “as is” purchase. However, the inspection is a very valuable tool of discovery for the buyer and can better prepare you for ownership.

When selecting your home inspector, it is important to know that there is currently no state regulating commission in place in Georgia, making selecting a qualified inspector a difficult task.

A good rule of thumb is to refer to reputable national organizations, such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors or the American Society of Home Inspectors, for members in your respective market. These types of organizations require continued education annually to maintain active memberships and are an invaluable source of education and support for the home inspector.

Another means to locate an inspector in your market is to consult your realtor for a list of qualified inspectors in your area. Remember that your agent has your best interest at heart and is very familiar with services (appraisals, lending, termite inspectors, home inspectors, etc.) needed by you in the process of purchasing a home.

One final thought is that the results of the inspection produced in the form of a report can sometimes appear to be enormous and loaded with concerns. Take a deep breath! Go over the findings in a report with your realtor. Remember that your agent sees these reports on a regular basis and can help to qualify issues on a priority basis for you. Your inspector will be available should you need further clarification or explanation.

Don’t go to the closing table without confidence. Hire a professional inspector and know what you are buying!

Mayor Thompson - Why live in Brunswick?

Mayor Thompson is finishing his first term and has been re-elected. Many would agree that his first term was a success for the City of Brunswick. As Mayor Thompson begins to plan for his second term, Coastal Housing Today has asked him to answer the question: “Why live in Brunswick?”

Mayor Brian Thompson, right, and his wife, Heather Heath, stand outside the house they have called home for the past seven years at 205 Albany Street in the City of Brunswick. (photo by Eliot VanOtteren)

CHT: “Mayor, why did you choose to live in Brunswick?”

Mayor Thompson: “I choose to live in Brunswick because the people here are friendly. The housing is full of character, with a wide-range of pricing options. The City of Brunswick also provides a variety of housing options and opportunities.”

CHT: “What are the key housing issues for the City?”

Mayor: “The City is working hard to create affordable housing options to help create even safer and cleaner neighborhoods for all residents. We are all working hard to offer programs to encourage living within the City limits. The city has been taking action to improve neighborhoods; from lighting along Norwich Street, to removing vacant, blighted structures and encouraging homeownership.”

CHT: “So, what is the City doing to encourage people to live in the City.”

Mayor: “The City is focusing on creating housing, family-friendly neighborhoods, and jobs to create opportunities for residents to live, work and play in the city. It is important that we all work together for a better community.”

CHT: “What are some of the things that you want City residents to know about?”

Mayor: “The City has a number of great, hometown activities including the Christmas parade, with over 90 entries, the Fourth of July celebration, concerts at Mary Ross Park, the Brunswick
Stewbilee, First Fridays on Newcastle and a full schedule of performances and events at the Ritz Theater.”

CHT: “What do you see as some of the key assets in the City?”

Mayor: “A great health system, a new four-year college, Coastal College of Georgia, a vibrant National Register District, expanding port facilities and many wonderful shops and restaurants.”

CHT: “Is there anything else you want residents or those looking for a home to know about the City of Brunswick?”

Mayor: “The city offers a wide range of housing opportunities and now is the time to buy.”

Be energy smart and lower your expenses

by Robert Pulsifier
City of Brunswick

Keeping our energy clean and affordable, and using it in an efficient manner, is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Geopolitical instability, climate change and runaway energy markets present a bewildering array of problems. Citizens, businesses and government agencies have experienced sharply rising energy costs — and face an uncertain energy future. The City of Brunswick understands that these increasing and unpredictable energy expenditures make it difficult to manage your budgets or plan for household repairs and improvements, and we’re taking steps to help.

The City of Brunswick is working with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to obtain an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. This grant falls under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, put in place February of 2009. With the passage of the Act, billions of dollars have been allocated to improve the energy efficiency of residential, commercial and governmental facilities and operations.

ARRA was designed with several goals in mind: to create jobs, enhance America’s energy independence, expand educational opportunities, and to protect those in greatest need. These are serious goals, and the City has taken the first step to make those goals a reality for our community.

We have developed a comprehensive program to conserve energy in City facilities and create ongoing benefits for the community. We will achieve dramatic cost savings with new, more efficient mechanical equipment, automated controls, lighting upgrades and more. The energy cost savings generated by implementing these measures will be reinvested in a number of different ways, including an energy awareness program for the community, and an incentive program for energy-efficient improvements in homes. These measures will directly help residents reduce their energy costs.