Housing Fair coming to York College

BY TONIA N. CIMINO

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 8:50 PM EDT

First-time homebuyers and homeowners with questions will have help on Tuesday, June 10 when Borough President Helen Marshall and the City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will hold a Housing Fair.

The “Welcome Home, Queens Annual Housing Fair” will take place between 6 and 9 p.m. at the Main Building on the York College campus, located at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica.

Aimed at assisting prospective homeowners, providing information on how to finance repairs for veteran homeowners and helping anxious owners threatened by foreclosure, the forum will address the current housing crisis.

According to a recent report by RealtyTrac, a real estate service, the number of New Yorkers losing their homes to foreclosure jumped up by a third compared with a year ago. The 34 percent increase for the first quarter of 2008, however, is far lower than the national rate.

“This is an opportunity to have questions answered about buying a home, how to finance repairs and what to do when threatened by foreclosure,” said Marshall. “Information will be available on the home buying process and mortgage options, homeownership opportunities provided by HPD and low interest loan programs for existing homeowners.”

Anyone who wishes to attend should call 212-863-5710 prior to the event. The site is accessible via MTA buses, the Long Island Rail Road and the subway.

Marshall expressed her gratitude to the sponsors of the fair who provided support. They include: The Bank of New York Mellon, Citibank, M&T Bank, JPMorganChase, Carver Federal Savings, the Cathay Bank and Washington Mutual.