USDA and Housing Partners Celebrate National Ownership Month with “Power Hour”
NV Rural Housing and Nevada Housing Division Collaborate to Leverage Homeownership in Nevada
CARSON CITY – June 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — USDA Rural Development (USDA RD) and its two close housing partners, Nevada Housing Division (NHD) and the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA), Tuesday celebrated National Homeownership Month with a “Power Hour” to brief real estate professionals on the changes to real estate law that resulted from the 2015 Nevada State Legislature and to honor their work to leverage homeownership across the state.
PK O’Neill, Assemblyman for District 40 provided the 2015 Nevada State Legislature briefing, Erin Schiller, of Ticor Title, talked about disclosures and time lines for implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new integrated mortgage disclosure forms and regulations that replace the Good Faith Estimate and early Truth in Lending Act.
Heather Creveling, of Summit Lending and Kyle Rush, of Guild Mortgage, provided tips and best practices to use state and federal housing programs together to best leverage value for homebuyers. By coordinating the NRHA’s Access and Mortgage Tax Credit Program with USDA’s Guaranteed Home Loan Program, real estate professionals can assist rural homebuyers who might not otherwise be able to afford a home loan.
The celebration ended with an awards presentation to acknowledge the hard work of the mortgage lending professionals who have applied best practices to make the most of the programs available. Those honored included, Dereck Bowlen of Eagle Home Mortgage, Drew Yardley of Prospect Mortgage, Jennell Peck, Katie Pagni and Lisa Bertock, of Primelending; Kyle Rush and Jennifer Fiore, of Guild Mortgage; Joannie Houk of Movement Mortgage; Koreena Warkentin, Heather Creveling, Shari Walsh and Shaun Bittick, of Summit Funding; Mary Lynn Atkins and Robert Castillo, of Greater Nevada Mortgage; Pam Robinson, of National Residential Mortgage; Ricci Vineyard of Mason-McDuffie Mortgage.
“We know that the real estate profession is a tough one, and using multiple programs can add to the complexity and frustration,” said USDA RD State Director Sarah Adler. “But those who go the extra mile really are an asset to the homebuyer. We thank them for their diligence.”
In addition, the Nevada Housing Division honored the Guild Mortgage lending team as the winner of its “Home is Possible for Heroes Award,” to recognize the firm’s commitment to veterans. The Home is Possible for Heroes mortgage program provides a below-market mortgage rate combined with a grant equal to 1% of the loan amount to help cover the down payment and closing costs of veterans and active military members.
Gary Longaker, Director of the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, encouraged lenders and realtorsto keep up the good work leveraging home loans across the state. “Our programs are here to support homebuyers, but without you, they could not go anywhere. Your efforts to inform homeowners is greatly appreciated,” Longaker said.
