Learn About Credit at NHS' Free Sept. 7 HomeBuyers Club Meeting
Barbara Harfmann
Published: August 31, 2011
Buying a home is more than numbers, dollars and cents. Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), a nonprofit HUD-certified counseling agency, is teaming up with experts from Money Management International to discuss credit reports and the importance of building credit at its September HomeBuyers Club meeting.
“Learning about credit and how to budget for buying a home is one of the most important topics we cover in the Club. This month we will be giving attendees valuable information and tips on how they can improve their credit score,” said Emilio Carrasquillo, who is facilitating the September 7th Club meeting being held from 6-8 p.m. at the NHS Back of the Yards HomeOwnership Education Center, 1823 W. 47th Street, Chicago.
As neighborhood director for the NHS Back of the Yards Office, Carrasquillo regularly counsels people in English and Spanish who would like to buy a home, but may not be quite ready. “The HomeBuyers Club grew out of feedback from hundreds of people who regularly take our free classes, but who felt like they needed more in-depth help and support before buying a home. That’s what this Club is all about.”
NHS’ HomeBuyers Club is a guided community support group that meets the first Wednesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the NHS Back of the Yards location. The Club, which launched in August, is free and open to all interested homebuyers throughout Chicagoland.
The Club provides peer support where participants learn not only from the experts, but from their own varied experiences. People can drop-in for one meeting or attend regularly. NHS brings in experts from real estate, law, lending, and insurance to be a part of future Club meetings discussing such topics as budgets and savings, understanding mortgage loan programs, City home buyer programs, and taxes and insurance.
One person who recently called NHS said she was paying $58 a month for credit counseling. She was excited that the HomeBuyers Club and NHS’ in-person classes are free of charge. While anyone can register for the HomeBuyers Club, it is particularly helpful for those who have completed NHS’ classes in-person or on-line.
For more information, visit www.nhschicago.org or contact Heather at 773-329-4113, or hblankenship@nhschicago.org. Please “like” Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago on Facebook and join us in conversation about homeownership.
A nonprofit organization established in 1975, NHS of Chicago is committed to offeringChicagoandElginresidents affordable resources so they can buy, fix, and keep their homes.
NHS’ new HomeBuyers Club meets monthly on the first Wednesday of the month at the NHS Back of the YardsHomeOwnershipCenter. The next Club meeting on September 7 will address credit scores, Learn more by visiting www.nhschicago.org.
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