Help for Homeowners

There's a workshop this weekend for families who might need help remaining in their homes. I saw the workshop, sponsored by Community Services Council, on the village's website.

I thought this might be a good workshop to learn more about homeownership.
When I called I learned that the event is primarily for people who need immediate assistance with foreclosure prevention and seniors looking for reverse mortgages information.

"It's aimed at people who are in trouble," said Bob Kalnicky, executive director of Community Services Council. "We'll be there with our counselors helping people with pending foreclosures and people who are behind in their mortgages."

Last year about 75 to 100 people attended the workshop. This year the organization expects to see even more, with about 100 to 125 people expected.

A key strategy that attendees can expect to be offered at the workshop is loan modification, such as lowering a home's interest rate or changing the length of a loan. Some loans can be stretched from a 30-year to a 40-year structure, Kalnicky said.

"It's about getting it to a place where people can afford it," he said. "Banks are more negotiable now. They want to keep people in their homes, because they don't want the inventory."

And how are Bolingbrook families doing in the wake of the foreclosure crisis? Kalnicky said the real estate inventory in the village is growing, and that his office has yet to see a peak. Each month about 200 area families contact the council looking for foreclosure relief.

If you plan to attend the event, it's recommended that you bring current loan documentation, income verification and a list of your bills.

The class will be held at the Romeoville Rec Center, located at 900 W. Romeo Road, in Romeoville, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug 29. For more information, visit the company's website at thecsc.org.

I hope this helps. See you around the Brook.

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