City’s Fair Helps Residents on Their Way to Achieving American Dream of Homeownership

By Lindsey Perkins Wade, Office of Communication

Posted on July 23, 2018, July 23, 2018

Chatter filled the Arlington Convention Center on Saturday morning, as city residents hungry for knowledge about the house-purchasing process soaked up as much as they could at The American Dream City's third annual Homeownership Fair.

"I'm trying to get as much information as possible," said longtime resident Creas Hatchett, echoing many others in attendance. Hatchett had heard that buying a house was stressful and was surprised to learn about all of the resources available. "You can actually get a lot of help - help with the down payment, help to fix your credit, help to build your credit."

The fair provided a roadmap of sorts, along with people and organizations to reach out to for assistance, helping attendees understand that they were not alone on their homeownership journey.

After only an hour into the event, resident Helene Kaptue learned she was ready for the mortgage pre-qualification process. "I will start making calls next week," she said. Kaptue has lived in Arlington for seven years and was excited at the prospect of owning a house here.

The fair started at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 2 p.m., with information sessions covering ways to improve your credit score, how to obtain a mortgage loan, fair housing laws and post-purchasing guidance, among other things. Participants interacted with housing specialists, city and state personnel, mortgage lenders and real estate agents.

One of the organizations in attendance was the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which has programs that make home buying more affordable through annual tax credits and lower interest rates.

"We want to help people not just get into a home but stay there," stressed Sue Nance, Business Development Officer in Texas' Homeownership Division. That sentiment is also shared by the City of Arlington.

The Homeownership Fair started three years ago as part of City Council's priority to Champion Great Neighborhoods and provides a valuable, educational event to Arlington residents. The fair empowers households to invest in their future, brings a sense of community and stability to neighborhoods, and promotes a healthy living environment through strong communities.