April 30, 2018

Supporting Affordable Housing in NoVa


Northern Virginia is one of the most challenging places to find affordable housing, so VHDA takes every opportunity we can to reach out in that area. On March 24, we helped sponsor the 8th Annual Northern Virginia Homeownership Expo, which was held at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria.

The event was coordinated by First Home Alliance, one of our new nonprofit partners, and was free and open to the public. First Home Alliance is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency promoting financial literacy and economic self-sufficiency. They’re dedicated to increasing homeownership among low- to moderate-income individuals and families, and to helping current homeowners stay in their homes through loss-mitigation counseling and foreclosure intervention.

We were joined at the Expo by representatives from the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, and the town of Herndon. VHDA business development officers were on hand to answer questions about our programs and services and to meet with financial professionals interested in joining our statewide network of VHDA-approved lenders.

The event drew about 200 people who came to find out about housing resources in the area. It was a good one-stop way to learn about and compare locations and to find the best opportunities for first-time homebuyers and renters.

VHDA’s booth attracted a steady stream of visitors. Potential homebuyers were particularly interested in learning about our Loan Combo package, which can provide qualified borrowers with a first mortgage at a competitive rate, plus a down payment grant, a Mortgage Credit Certificate (first-time homebuyer tax credit) and a free homebuyer class.

Attendees had the opportunity to sit down for a free 30-minute financial counseling session, and were also welcome to participate in a variety of workshops covering topics such as:

  • Are You Ready to Rent?
  • Are You Ready to Buy?
  • The ABCs of Credit Scores
  • Rental and Homebuying Market Overviews
  • Household Finance
  • Buyer and Rental Assistance Programs

The Northern Virginia Homeownership Expo was a rewarding way to help aspiring homebuyers pursue their dream of having a quality, affordable place to call their own.

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