Surviving the Housing Crunch

During the event the best resource by far I found for homeowners struggling to avoid foreclosure was the San Diego Home Loan Counseling & Education Center.

The San Diego Home Loan Counseling & Education Center is a Housing of Urban Development (HUD) approved, certified non-profit agency that offers (among many other services): budget and credit counseling; counseling assistance for re-qualifying as a home buyer after foreclosure; and default/foreclosure counseling services.

The fees for these in-depth counseling services are charged on a sliding fee scale however, Mr. Dean Brown of the SDHLCEC told me that right now the fees are waived (free!) thanks to grant funding. & These services are free or very moderately priced otherwise, and the consumer value must be very high. &

For first-time home buyers, there were lots of resources, such as the California Housing Financing Agency , the Housing Opportunities Collaborative , and especially great for veterans who are first-time home buyers, the California Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program.

For consumers ready to file a grievance against a lender, broker, real estate agency or other business that misleading buyers into unprincipled deals, the Attorney General's office has a consumer complaint division that takes legal action on the public's behalf. & However, for this system to work, consumers must file a complaint . & The good news is that it's a straightforward process.

The Housing Fair provided a place to consider the consumer's role in a sliding economy. & I hope readers use the information and consider which candidates show leadership beyond hoping to be elected this year.

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