Homestead Act has changed in Massachusetts

Up to $125,000 is available without recording a Homestead Declaration.

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2010/12/18/new_law_clarifies_mass_homestead_protections/?p1=News_links

December Workshop

Registrations for our next workshop, Dec 2, 3, & 4th are coming in now, but there is still room in the class.
Guest speakers include Sherry Temple-Pruyn from Eastern Bank, Mike O'Keefe from RE/MAX On the River, Craig Popp from Mt. Vernon Inspection Associates, and Attorney Mayte Ramos.

To register, send an email to Ellie O'Leary: EOLeary@CoastalHB.org

October Workshop

We are now taking registrations for our October workshop meeting in Newburyport on two Saturdays - October 16th and 23rd. Please email EOLeary@CoastalHB.org to get the flyer and the registration form. The cost is $60 per household.

Guest speakers include Sherry Temple-Pruyn from Eastern Bank, John Carroll from ABC Home Inspections and Becky Palmer from Consumer Credit Counseling Services.

Post Purchase Workshops

Although Coastal Homebuyer Education will not be doing post purchase workshops, these agencies will be offering them. Contact the people named below to find out about times and availability.

Post Purchase classes in the North Shore/Merrimack Valley area.

Community Teamwork Inc, Lowell
Cathy Dyl, (978) 459-0551, cdyl@comteam.org

Gloucester Housing Authority, Gloucester
Kathy Erkkila, (978) 281-4770 x110, klerkkila@ghama.com

Lawrence Community Works, Lawrence
Juan Bonilla (978) 685-3115, jbonilla@lcworks.org

Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance
617-822-9100, http://www.mahahome.org/class/index.html

September Workshop

Registrations are coming in now for the September workshop meeting on September 18th and 25th, two Saturdays, in Newburyport MA. To get a flyer and registration please email me at EOLeary@CoastalHB.org.

September Workshop

We just finished our August workshop with 15 households. We have trained 97 households so far this year and are still going strong. Our next workshop will meet on September 18 and 25. To get registration information please email EOLeary@CoastalHB.org

August Workshop

We are now taking registrations for our August workshop meeting on two Saturdays, the 14th and the 21st from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To get the flyer and the registration form please email EOLeary@CoastalHB.org. The fee is $60 per household.

Annual meeting

We just had our annual meeting this morning and have changes to the Board of Directors. We would like to say thank you to our departing directors, Gonzalo Puigbo of Eastern Bank and Kim Foulkes of Newburyport Bank.

Our Board is now:
President: Martha Solish, Coastal Homebuyer Education, Inc.
Treasurer: Sherry Temple Pruyn, Eastern Bank
Clerk: Kate Batchelder, Newburyport Bank
Member: Michael O'Keefe, RE/MAX On the River

Facebook

We just joined Facebook today. Check out our new Facebook widget on the left.

We are now taking registrations for our June workshop. We usually meet on Saturdays, but this is our annual weeknight round of sessions. We are meeting in Newburyport from 6pm to 8:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays June 15, 16, 22 and 23. The cost is $60 per household. For a flyer and regiatration please send an email to EOLeary@CoastalHB.org.

April workshop filling up

We have room for only 2 more households in the workshop that starts on Saturday. Email right away if you are interested. Our May workshop will be on the 15th and 22nd in Gloucester.

April Workshop

We have room for only 9 more households. If you are thinking of registering, now is the time.

April Workshop

We are now accepting registrations for our next workshop on April 17 & 24 - two Saturdays. contact Ellie O'Leary at EOLeary@coastalhb.org.

$500 off closing costs

One of our participating lenders, Eastern Bank, is offering $500.00 off the borrowers' closing costs for all purchase applications received by May 15, 2010. Contact Sherry Pruyn, contact info below.

Sherry L Temple Pruyn
Senior Loan Officer- Mortgage Lending Department
10 State Street, Suite 205
Newburyport, Ma 01950
Office Phone: 978-225-1555 x 332
Mobile Phone: 978-500-6945
E-Fax: 781-477-1337
Email: s.temple@easternbank.com

Credit Cards: New Law Protects Consumers from Surprise Fees, Rate Increases and Other Penalties Some changes are effective now, most start next year

There are changes coming to the credit card laws. You can read about those changes directly on the FDIC site at this link.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum09/newlaw.html

Saturday

The class that starts this Saturday is filling fast.

February Workshop

We are now accepting registrations for our February workshop.
Two Saturdays in Newburyport Massachusetts
Please email EOLeary@CoastalHB.org or call 978-992-4106