New Board Member

We would like to welcome our newest Board Member: Trisha McCarthy of Keller Williams Realty in Newburyport MA. Trisha is the 2011 President-Elect for Massachusetts Association of Realtors®, serves on the National Association of Realtors® Committee for Land Use, Public Policy, Environmental Issues and Risk Management, and is also a member of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. Trisha has volunteered as a guest speaker in our First Time Homebuyer Workshops a number of times in recent years and will be our guest speaker this Saturday March 5.

Be Prepared for Credit Checks

In the workshops, I always tell people while they are going through the puchase of a home, do not make any major changes. No new credit, new cars, or even furniture - this includes washers and dryers. Click here for an article on exactly this topic.

March Workshop

We are now taking registrations for our March workshop, meeting in Newburyport on two Saturdays - March 5 & 12 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To get the registration form send an email to  EOLeary@CoastalHB.org or call 978-992-4106.

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