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Architecture Guide
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Take a Quiz
30 under 30
Young Professionals
REALTOR® Emeritus |  | THE GOOD NEIGHBOR TOOL KIT: IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNITY cont. | | ||
|  Why Volunteer? Getting Started Improving Your Community Improving Yourself as a Volunteer Fundraising Working with Volunteers More Resources Directory: Links to Charitable Organizations | Tips for Encouraging Homeownership Helping first-time and low-income buyers achieve the benefits of homeownership helps build a solid base for your community. Homeowners usually take better care of their properties, stay put longer, and take more interest in their communities than renters. · Explore federal, state, and sometimes local grants available for low-income homeowners. Sources include Fannie Mae’s Home Path program and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. · Offer a free seminar that helps potential homebuyers determine how to afford a home. · Offer a free seminar on financial planning and saving for a downpayment. · Offer a free seminar on improving your credit rating. · Contact local developers and ask them to consider donating a home in a new subdivision to a low-income family. · Work through your local Habitat for Humanity or other affordable housing groups in your area. · If you’re handy, use donations to buy a fixer-upper house and renovate it. Get local hardware and building supply stores to donate materials. Talk to schools to see if shop students could work on the house for class credit. Sell it at below-market price to a low-income family. · Give new homeowners a mini-tool kit and a book of maintenance tips so that they will know how to keep their new homes in good repair.-- Joy Gouyd, J.T. Brokers Group, Jupiter, Fla. , 2000 Good Neighbor Awards Honorable Mention Tips for Staying Motivated > | |||