Rensselaer College in Hartford, CT was the setting of a recently held Homeownership Protection seminar sponsored by HUD's Hartford Field Office. The session was one of several held across the nation to promote FHA products. Special emphasis was placed on helping existing homeowners keep their homes in light of increased foreclosures due to sub-prime lending issues.

Karen Nigel of the Hartford Education Resource Center, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.

Julie Fagan, Hartford Field Office Director, provided opening comments to the nearly 50 individuals in attendance. This was followed by John Ertle, Single Family Housing Specialist, presenting information on how to become a first-time homebuyer, foreclosure prevention, refinancing and the benefits of FHA products in purchasing and refinancing a home. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies--Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain, Housing Education Resource Center and Co-opportunity of Hartford--were on hand to provide advice and to set up appointments with interested homebuyers and homeowners.

The resets of sub-prime loans are just now beginning to accelerate in Connecticut and are projected to continue through October 2008. The seminar represents one of the many activities being undertaken by the Hartford Field Office to address sub-prime lending issues and to promote homeownership in the state.

Visit HUD's www.fha.gov website to learn more about FHA products and HUD's Homeownership website to learn about homebuying opportunities in Connecticut.

Content Archived: March 21, 2011