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Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) recently announced the Virtual Homeowner & Homebuyer Expo – Housing the Future Together!
In partnership with the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD), this consumer-oriented housing expo will offer Miami-Dade County residents a wide range of informational workshops and a vendor exhibit under two learning tracks; a Future Homebuyer track that will provide valuable resources to help put prospective homebuyers on the right path, and a Current Homeowner track that will give existing homeowners the tools they need to uphold their investment.
The virtual event, created to promote economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Registration is open free to the public.
“We are thrilled to be cohosting this event with the Miami-Dade County PHCD,” said Kim Henderson, president and CEO of NHSSF. “This is the first time we are offering two different learning tracks in order to better serve our community. Whether you’re working toward buying a home or looking to protect your existing home, this event has something to offer.
“Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in valuable, financial workshops and shop from over seven lenders and 23 vendors all under one virtual roof,” Henderson continued. “By educating our residents about the resources available to them, we are empowering them to become responsible homeowners.”
Building on the success of previous housing fairs, the goal of this event is to help inform low to moderate-income residents about the homebuying process and put them on the path to homeownership. The expo will offer a variety of learning opportunities through a series of workshops in which guests can elect to participate. Among these will be a First Time Homebuyer’s Workshop that will provide participants with an HCA First Time Homebuyer Certificate. Obtaining this certificate through a HUD-certified housing counseling agency is required to qualify for government sponsored down payment assistance and to acquire a loan from a community lender. It is also a great way for first-time homebuyers to learn more about the homebuying process. The class will be offered in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole.
Other standout workshops include the Realtor’s Roundtable and the Lender’s Roundtable where participants will hear from industry experts about the best opportunities available to them in today’s market.
For homeowners, there will be educational sessions about how they can incorporate more environmentally friendly features into their home renovation plans, as well as live demonstrations on solar panel installation, DIY home repair, gardening, energy efficiency improvements, etc.
Following is a list of confirmed workshops. All sessions are subject to change.
Future Homebuyer Track:
Understanding the Home Buying Process — HUD Certified Homebuyer Workshop offered in English, Spanish and Creole (participants to receive HCA First Time Homebuyer Certificate);
It’s Great to Be Home — Helping you decide if you are ready to buy a home;
Real Talk From Real Lenders — A discussion of CRA loan products;
Down Payment Assistance Roundtable — Discussion of available programs city and countywide, and
Real Estate Roundtable — Finding a home in a competitive market.
Current Homeowner Track: Housing-Related Info Sessions (60 min.):
Keep Your Home Safe — Everything you need to know about buying the right homeowner’s insurance;
Save Money by Going Green — How to go green in your home and save money while doing it;
Protect Your Home Against Flooding and Heat — Actions you can take to protect your home;
Solar from Your Neighbor — The benefits of going solar, and
Energy and Water Use — The importance of conservation.
In addition, all participants will be able to visit a virtual Vendors Exhibit Hall of more than 23 exhibitors including a variety of lenders, Realtors, housing counselors, government agencies, insurance providers and other service providers that can offer tools such as government sponsored down payment assistance, community lending programs, refinancing opportunities, energy and water efficiency, etc.
Attendees will be able to obtain information about services and products first-hand through a real-time chat feature activated on each exhibitor’s virtual booth. Exhibitors include: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, Citi Bank, IBERIABANK – First Horizon, Santander Bank, Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Freddie Mac, Solar United Neighbors, Miami-Dade County PHCD, Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer Department, Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience and Miami-Dade County Economic Advocacy Trust among others.
“The Miami-Dade County Homeowner and Homebuyer Expo is a crucial part of our county’s response to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our residents. It’s a way for us to help our community recover and maintain housing stability,” said Michael Liu, director of the Miami-Dade Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD).
“Residents looking to educate themselves about the home buying process or that need assistance with major obstacles such as how to qualify for community lending programs or down payment assistance will find this event incredibly helpful. We cannot wait to welcome our community,” Liu continued.
Registration for the Virtual Homeownership & Homebuyer Expo is required and now open. Residents must visit https://housing-the-future-together-expo.vfairs.com to register and for more information.
