Cheynne River Homebuyer Fair

Poster contest winners

The first ever homebuyer education fair was held on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation on June 18, 2003, during National Homeownership Month. Ninety-three potential homebuyers attended the fair hosted by the Cheyenne River Housing Authority and held at the Eagle Butte High School.

The homeownership rate on the Cheyenne River Reservation is very low and this event presented residents with educational opportunities to help them purchase a home. The Cheyenne River Housing Authority offers down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified buyers. In addition, the Housing Authority builds homes offsite, moves them onto qualified-resident lots, and sells them to residents at cost. Currently, the Cheyenne River Housing Authority has the capacity to build twenty homes per year. Many homebuyers are utilizing HUD's 184 Loan Guarantee Program (http://www.codetalk.fed.us/loan184.html) to finance their new homes.

The event featured fourteen exhibitors and ten workshops, covering topics such as, the mortgage loan process, predatory lending, homeownership opportunities, and HUD's 184 Loan Guarantee Program. Potential homebuyers were able to gather a ton of information about the homebuying process and homebuyer assistance programs. Many potential homebuyers took their first step and started down the path of homeownership by completing a loan application.

For more information about the housing opportunities on the Cheyenne River Reservation, contact: Sharon Vogel (605) 964-4265, x 132