For First Time Homeowners, 6 Steps to
Homeownership
Attend a FREE Homeownership
Education Seminar (to learn about the home buying process)
Find a Lender (and get
pre-approved for a home loan)
Find a Realtor (to assist
with your home search)
Find a Home (and make an
offer to purchase)
Attend the Loan Closing
(with a closing agent or attorney)
Enjoy Homeownership
(Congratulations!)
Know What’s on your Credit Report
Annualcreditreport.com
allows access to your credit report from each repository FREE once a
year. This is the only website that allows free access to your
credit report. We recommend obtaining a credit report from each
repository throughout the year (Example: January-
Experian, May-TransUnion, September-Equifax). If you would
like to contact any of the repositories individually, we’ve listed
their information below. However, they will redirect the user to
the annualcreditreport.com
website:
The only thing that improves
negative/damaged credit is timely payments & reduction of debt.
Please avoid credit repair scams that promise to remove negative
items from credit, erase bad credit, or repair credit. And finally,
please do not pay anyone to “repair” your credit. This cannot be
done.
Other Important Information
To lessen telemarketer calls,
register your number at The National Do Not Call Registry at
donotcall.gov
HOMEBUYER EDUCATION COURSES
The next scheduled VHDA Homebuyer Education course is
scheduled for Monday & Tuesday, August 30th and 31st from
5-8pm. Please contact Monique Jackson
at 757-727-1111 x 303 to register.
William Lockard, Charlie Famuliner, Eleanor Brown,
and Frank Lofurno CLICK HERE to see
additional images
EPA and HUD Recognize HRHA for Energy Efficiency
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) have awarded Hampton
Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) the
2009 Regional ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence
in Affordable Housing in recognition of its
efforts to provide energy-efficient housing for
low-income residents. HRHA was recognized at an
awards ceremony on April 14th at 1:30
pm at one of the energy–efficient homes located
at 320 Union Street, Hampton.
“I am very pleased that our staff
members are being recognized for their efforts
to build energy efficient homes,” said Frank
Lofurno, Executive Director of the Hampton
Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA). “In
addition to these efforts, we have supported
HUD's initiative to utilize ENERGY STAR products
in all of our renovations and improvements to
our residential communities.”
Since 2001, HRHA built 58
single-family homes for low and moderate income
families and has incorporated energy efficiency
including Energy Star features of effective
insulation, high performance windows and doors,
air sealing, efficient duct systems, efficient
heating and cooling systems, qualified
appliances, advanced lighting packages and water
saving water closets, shower heads, faucets, and
aerators which exceed the federal utility
conservation measures. While the additional
construction expense of $4,644 per unit
increases the cost per unit by 3%, the homebuyer
saves $657 annually resulting in a break-even
point of slightly more than seven years.
“The Green Initiative has been a
priority for our Board of Commissioners here in
Hampton, added Bill Lockard, Director of
Construction for the Housing Authority. “As
HRHA explores the possibilities of expanding
energy conservation measures in our homes, we
will continue to emphasize that ‘a green home
begins with Energy Star blue’.”
ENERGY STAR Awards are given to a variety of
organizations to recognize their contribution to the
construction and rehabilitation of energy-efficient
homes that benefit the environment, while providing
homeowners with a quieter, more comfortable home,
along with significant utility savings. Award
winners are selected from more than 12,000
organizations that participate in the
ENERGY STAR
program.
Last year alone, Americans with the help of ENERGY
STAR saved over $16 billion on their energy bills
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to
the emissions of 27 million vehicles.
”Energy efficiency is important in every community,”
said Bill Miles, Field Office Director of the HUD
Richmond Office. “Partners like HRHA are helping
bring the benefits of ENERGY STAR and energy
efficiency to everyone. With an energy efficient
home, residents can rely on reduced utility bills,
and increased comfort and durability, all while
protecting the environment.”
HRHA, created in 1958, provides housing assistance
to 7,362 Hampton residents or 5% of the population.
They own and manage 521 units of public housing and
20 homeownership units. They administer 2,618
housing choice vouchers including 165 units for
veterans and 75 units for people with disabilities,
as well as various low income tax credit housing
projects and other housing units. Additionally, in
partnership with the City of Hampton, using HUD
Community Development Block Grant funds, they have
acquired over 500 blighted properties and have
constructed 192 wheelchair ramps and using HUD HOME
funding, they have provided grants to 352 low-income
homeowners to repair their homes.
ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers
energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and
help protect the environment for future generations.
More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR
partners committed to improving the energy
efficiency of products, homes, buildings and
businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR,
visit
www.energystar.gov or call toll-free
1-888-STAR-YES.
We
have compiled a list of emergency resources
in our community. Please support these organizations with your
valuable time and donations.
