United Way of Northwest Indiana hosts annual First-Time Homeowner’s Fair

On March 14, United Way of Northwest Indiana hosted its First-Time Homeowners Fair at The Dean and Barbara White Community Center. This is an annual event open to members of the public who are interested in becoming homeowners for the first time. The fair offers a number of vendors for attendees to speak with, including loan officers, realtors, credit counselors, and more.

Vice President of Development at United Way, Kristina Fry, knows how important this event is for anyone who is even in the very beginning planning phases of purchasing their first home.

“Families that we serve are often caught in the rental trap, and rent is often so much higher than a home mortgage, so showing people a pathway into home ownership and out of that vicious rent cycle is important,” Fry said. “Having more control over your circumstances is crucial when you’re at the mercy of landlords and property managers. I was in those same shoes, and if I had realized what steps it would take to own my own home sooner, I would have. I think that it is important for all families to know about this.”

The event was emceed by Kevin Lisbosa, a former financial wellness counsellor with United Way. A panel of speakers representing every aspect of homebuying spoke to the crowd about the mortgage process, from step-by-step house hunting instructions to advice on building credit. Other representatives from United Way Northwest Indiana, including Impact Vice President Kimberly Smith, were on hand to assist prospective homeowners as well.

Misty De La Cruz, a financial wellness specialist from First Financial Bank, believes this is the ideal event for anyone who feels lost in what can be an overwhelming process. The event is laid back and fun. Every table not only brings information to guests, but also goodies and swag.

“People need to know what to expect, right? Everybody has the end goal of ‘I want to have my own home,’ which is fantastic, and we want to help them get there,” De La Cruz said. “We also want to help them be prepared, though, and to know what’s coming up and stay there when they get there.”

In De La Cruz’s role of teaching financial education, she knows the most important aspects to preparing for home ownership, like building credit, budgeting, and debt management, and having all the skills needed to maintain their homes.

“At First Financial Bank, we’re a community bank. We’re here in the area, and we have many opportunities, not only for preparation, but also for the mortgage loan process with our mortgage loan officers and programs to help people get into their homes. There’s down payment assistance, including for first responders and community heroes, that is available to more people than you might think,” said De La Cruz.

Valerie Anderson represented Centier Bank at the event, where she greeted guests with a smile and her more than thirty years of experience. Her mission was to help debunk many of the myths that keep people from believing home ownership is within their grasp.

“They don’t need 20% down,” Anderson said. “There are tons of different programs out there to help them purchase a home, some with as little as no money down at all. We even offer a program called a Neighborhood Loan that requires no down payment at all.”

Anderson wants people to know that choosing a local bank can be an ideal option for homebuyers who want the maximum information on local grants that might be available to them.

“Centier is a community bank. They care about people,” Anderson said. “They are always giving donations to the community, so I would invite people to come bank with us. They’re perfect for everything from mortgage loans to wealth management to business loans. Centier does it all.”

The guests on the expert panel informed attendees that even if people feel years away from homeowning, it’s never too soon to begin preparation. The First-Time Homebuyers Fair is an ideal event where answers to every question can be found, and there is no shortage of experience for anyone with questions.

For more information on United Way of Northwest Indiana, visit unitedwaynwi.org.