Homeport | Building Vibrant Communities http://homeportohio.org Building Vibrant Communities Thu, 17 May 2012 21:41:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Food Truck and Cart Hop http://homeportohio.org/2012/05/food-truck-and-cart-hop/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/05/food-truck-and-cart-hop/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 16:09:00 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4547 Support Homeport by joining us at the Food Truck and Cart Hop on May 27th from noon-6pm. The event is held at the Southwest Corner of Parsons and Gates in Merion Village. A portion of the proceeds from the food trucks and carts will go to support Homeport Programs.

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and appetites for this monthly event at the corner of Parsons Avenue and E. Gates St. Dine outside, take it to go, or bring it inside and wash it all down with your favorite adult beverages at Hal & Al’s!

Click here to RSVP on Facebook!

 


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]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/05/food-truck-and-cart-hop/feed/ 0 First Birthday Party for Homeport Gallery http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/first-birthday-party-for-homeport-gallery/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/first-birthday-party-for-homeport-gallery/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:26:02 +0000 adam http://homeportohio.org/?p=4465 Come out to the party as we celebrate this momentous date in the gallery’s history. Stop by for art, light refreshments, music, and the chance to revel with those who have helped make the first year a success!

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/first-birthday-party-for-homeport-gallery/feed/ 0 Amy Klaben named Columbus Board of Realtors’ 2012 Citizen of the Year http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/amy-klaben-named-columbus-board-of-realtors-2012-citizen-of-the-year/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/amy-klaben-named-columbus-board-of-realtors-2012-citizen-of-the-year/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:14:10 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4463 The Columbus Board of Realtors created the award to recognize individuals who have unselfishly given of themselves for the betterment of the real estate industry in central Ohio. Amy was presented the award on Wednesday, April 26th at Bridgewater Conference Center during a special Awards Lunch.

There will be a celebration on Thursday, June 7th from 5:30pm to 7pm at the Homeport Gallery. More details will be published soon.

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/amy-klaben-named-columbus-board-of-realtors-2012-citizen-of-the-year/feed/ 0 Bending Brook Health & Resource Fair was a great success http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/bending-brook-health-resource-fair-was-a-great-success/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/bending-brook-health-resource-fair-was-a-great-success/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:14:05 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4421 Homeport provided Urbancrest residents a one-stop opportunity to access various resources and services – including a teen soccer match, live music, interpreter service, raffle, and a FREE Fresh Produce Market during the Bending Brook Health & Resource Fair held on April 10, 2012.

Special thanks to the support of our community partners:

  • Vaughn E. Hairston YMCA
  • Chase
  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • Red Cross of Greater Columbus
  • Ohio Consumer Council
  • T.O.U.C.H
  • Jackson TWP Fire Department
  • Mayor Barnes
  • DJ Tim
  • Nimo Amed
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Columbus State Community College
  • Job Corps

Numerous children from the Bending Brook community won YMCA gear including T-shirts, frisbees, and water bottles; resident Ron Evans even won a full-year YMCA membership. Younger children were engaged in various ways, with AmeriCorps member Sarah Gange teaching how to make friendship bracelets and Jackson Township Fire Department demonstrating fire prevention. The Red Cross promoted healthy food choices, and the Ohio Consumer Council and Caresource provided information on how to access their services. DJ Tim kept everyone dancing, while YMCA Manager Pam live-tweeted the event. Highlights of the night were captured through Columbus Messenger’s interviews and Miriam’s photography. 

Additionally, the Homeport Community Life Department and a host of volunteers gave away 10,000 pounds of fresh produce provided by Mid-Ohio Food Bank.  This amazing team – comprised of Homeport staff and volunteers, AmeriCorps members, YMCA staff, Chase, community volunteers, and Mayor Barnes – came together to reach 142 families, 50 seniors, 170 children, and 249 adults residing in the Urbancrest community.

A big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers, community partners, and Homeport staff for taking time out of their schedules to help the Community Life team and its AmeriCorps members to host a successful event for the residents of our Bending Brook community.

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/bending-brook-health-resource-fair-was-a-great-success/feed/ 0 Our mobile site makes it easy to find information. http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/our-mobile-site-makes-it-easy-to-find-information/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/our-mobile-site-makes-it-easy-to-find-information/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:43:36 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4399 The entire Homeport website can be experienced from an iPhone or Android smartphone. The difference is that the information is tailored for a smaller screen. When you head to homeportohio.org on a smartphone, the website automatically connects to the mobile site providing large buttons for easy navigation and searching. Search available homes for sale or rent, check out class schedules, and register for events – all in the palm of your hand! 

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/our-mobile-site-makes-it-easy-to-find-information/feed/ 0 Maintenance Volunteer Needed http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/maintenance-volunteer-needed/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/maintenance-volunteer-needed/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:20:37 +0000 rachel http://homeportohio.org/?p=4391 Our Community Life department is looking for a Maintenance Volunteer that would be able to visit are various  communities as well as our offices to help with light maintenance issues as they arise. This schedule can be very flexible based on a volunteers availability. 

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Rachel Arnold, today if this opportunity is of  interest to you at rachel.arnold@homeportohio.org. 

 

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/maintenance-volunteer-needed/feed/ 0 Were you AWARE that all of our new Homeport homes are built to sustainable, accessible standards? http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/were-you-aware-that-all-of-our-new-homeport-homes-are-built-to-sustainable-accessible-standards/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/were-you-aware-that-all-of-our-new-homeport-homes-are-built-to-sustainable-accessible-standards/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:09:29 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4379

Franklin County and the City of Columbus are adopting the AWARE Green/Universal Design Manual as the performance standard for the construction and renovation of federally-funded residential projects. AWARE stands for:

Accessible
Water Conservation
Air Quality
Resource Conscious
Energy Efficient 

The AWARE Manual was designed to achieve Enterprise Green Communities Standards.

The AWARE Manual will provide new and existing housing stock to residents of Franklin County and Columbus that is healthier, more accessible, resource conscious, and environmentally friendly. The City and County are committed to promoting AWARE green and universal design standards of construction throughout Franklin County and Columbus. 

Healthier Homes

    • Testing and mitigating radon gas, if necessary, (a main cause of lung cancer)
    • Active/forced or passive air systems to bring fresh air into the home
    • Ventilation to remove moisture, which causes mold and mildew
    • Integrated pest control using non-chemical methods
    • Low/No VOC products:
      • Paints
      • Adhesives
      • Carpet
      • Floor tiles and sheet goods
      • Bathroom and kitchen cabinets 
More Accessible Homes
  • No-step entry (making it wheelchair accessible)
  • Wider doorways and halls (making them wheelchair accessible)
  • Wider stairways (for future installation of a stair lift)
  • 1st floor bath and bedroom (making home accessible to all)
  • Providing floor space and fixtures to accommodate wheelchair access in bathrooms and kitchens
  • 1st floor laundry (accessible to all)
  • Lever handle faucets (easy operation for all)
  • Lever handle door locks/latches (easy operation for all)
  • Wood blocking in the walls (for future installation of grab bars)
  • Positioning the height of wall outlets, switches, thermostats, door locksets and cabinet handles (accessible to all) 

Resource and Energy Conscious Homes 

  • 90% + gas forced air furnaces
  • Water-saving plumbing fixtures
    • commodes
    • faucets
    • shower heads
  • Better house insulation
  • Using Energy Star-Rated:
    • Windows and doors
    • Appliances
    • Light fixtures
    • Fans
    • Hot water heaters
Environmentally-Friendly Homes
      • Recycling construction waste
      • Using recycled materials/products
      • Using a detailed framing plan to reduce material waste wood without compromising structural integrity
      • Creating a framing order waste factor limit holding the waste material to 10% or less
      • Using pre-cut or pre-assembled building systems or methods
      • Use materials from renewable resources or agricultural byproducts
Look for the AWARE  logo on the home listing page.

AWARE resources at Franklin County Board of Commissioners Economic and Development

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/were-you-aware-that-all-of-our-new-homeport-homes-are-built-to-sustainable-accessible-standards/feed/ 0 EMH&T donates computers for communities http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/emht-donates-computers-for-communities/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/emht-donates-computers-for-communities/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:58:25 +0000 adam http://homeportohio.org/?p=4432 The halls at the Homeport main office were recently overtaken by 28 desktop computers. Longtime partner EMH&T made the generous donation, which will help more of our residents become connected to online resources.

A crew of volunteers have been hard at work updating the computers and getting them ready for their new owners. In the coming weeks, we will move the computers to seven of our communities — four per site.  The computers will be given to kids in our summer camp, who will earn the chance to be selected by meeting participation and behavior criteria. Having a computer on display at each site will remind the campers that it takes daily practice to reach long-term goals.

A big thank you to EMH&T for offering the computers to our families. We appreciate you thinking of us.

]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/emht-donates-computers-for-communities/feed/ 0 How to spot foreclosure loan scams http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/how-to-spot-foreclosure-loan-scams/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/how-to-spot-foreclosure-loan-scams/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:12:59 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4361 Below are just a few scenarios, contact the Homeport Housing Advisory Center at 614-221-8889 ext 134  or our contact form, if you believe you may have been the victim of a scam.Ask yourself the following questions:

Did anyone contact you offering assistance to modify your mortgage, either directly by telephone, or by other means such as by mail or a flyer?

Were you guaranteed a loan modification or asked to do any of the following: pay a fee, sign  a contract, redirect mortgage payments, sign over title to your property, or stop making loan payments?

Phony Counseling or Foreclosure Rescue Scams
The scam artist poses as a counselor and tells you he can negotiate a deal with your lender to modify your loan or save your house—if you pay him a fee first. Once you pay the fee, or a few mortgage payments, the scammer disappears with your money.

Fake “Government” Modification Programs
Some scammers may claim to be affiliated with, or approved by, the government, or they may ask you to pay high, up-front fees to “qualify” for government mortgage modification programs. The scammer’s company name and Website may sound like a real government agency, but the Website may end with .com or .net instead of .gov.

Forensic Loan Audit
The scammer who may be called a forensic or mortgage loan “auditor” offers to review your mortgage loan documents to determine whether your lender complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws. The scammer will usually require that you pay a fee to start the process. The scammer may say you can use the audit report to avoid foreclosure, accelerate the loan modification process, reduce your loan principal, or even cancel your loan. There is no proof that a forensic loan audit can save your home from foreclosure although it’s conducted by a licensed, legitimate and trained auditor, mortgage professional or lawyer.

Mass Joinder Lawsuit
The scam artist, usually a lawyer, law firm or a marketing partner will promise that they can force your lender to modify your loan. They will tell you that by joining other homeowners in a mass joinder lawsuit against a particular lender, you will be able to stop a foreclosure, reduce your loan balance or interest rate, receive monetary damages, or even receive title to your house free and clear. Mass joinder lawsuit scammers will try to “sell” you participation in a lawsuit against your mortgage lender, claiming that you cannot participate in the lawsuit until you pay some type of fee.

Bait-and-Switch
The scam artist convinces you to sign documents for a “new loan modification” that will make your existing mortgage current. This is a trick. You actually just signed documents that surrender the title or deed of your house to the scam artist in exchange for a “rescue” loan.

Rent-to-Own or Leaseback Scheme
A scammer urges you to surrender the title or deed of your home as part of a deal that will let you stay in your home as a renter and then buy it back in a few years. He may tell you that surrendering the title will permit a borrower with a better credit rating to get new financing—and keep you from losing your home. However, the scammer may have no intention of ever selling the home back to you. But the terms of these deals usually make buying back your home impossible. Worse yet, when the new borrower defaults on the loan, you’re evicted.

Short Sale Scam
Scammers, sometimes called “short sale negotiators” or “short sale processors,” may promise to expedite a short sale and usually require you to pay a fee, which is illegal in many states. A short sale may be a legitimate option for a homeowner in default or homeowner who is current yet the value of the home has fallen — if the lender agrees to the short sale. But homeowners should only work with a licensed real estate professional or licensed real estate attorney since the law requires that the person be properly licensed to negotiate the short sale with your lender.

Bankruptcy to Avoid Foreclosure
The scammer may promise to negotiate with your lender or get refinancing on your behalf if you pay a fee up front. Instead of contacting your lender or refinancing your loan, he pockets the fee and files a bankruptcy case in your name—sometimes without your knowledge.

A bankruptcy filing often stops a home foreclosure, but only temporarily. Filing bankruptcy stops any collection and foreclosure while the bankruptcy court administers the case. But, eventually you must start paying your mortgage, or the lender will be able to foreclose.

These are just a few scenarios, contact the Homeport Housing Advisory Center at 614-221-8889 ext 134  or our contact form, if you believe you may have been the victim of a scam.

Reference: http://www.loanscamalert.org/common-scams.aspx


]]> http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/how-to-spot-foreclosure-loan-scams/feed/ 0 Why rent when you can own for as low as $650/month? http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/why-rent-when-you-can-own-for-as-low-as-650/ http://homeportohio.org/2012/04/why-rent-when-you-can-own-for-as-low-as-650/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:56:35 +0000 ray http://homeportohio.org/?p=4355

Call us today at 614-545-4826 to see if you qualify for below market 30 year fixed financing! Or, send us a message with our web form.

It’s a great time to buy a NoBo on Long Condominium, with payments as low as $650/month!

  • Carefree, convenient condominium living
  • Energy-efficient 1 and 2 bedroom townhomes with garage
  • Select your own finishes!
  • Low fixed interest, no PMI, and low down payment mortgage options available*
  • Reduced taxes on all units!
  • Ask about grants and current offers
  • More information at NoBo on Long Condominium section

*For qualified buyers. 

Call us today at 614-545-4826 to see if you qualify for below market 30 year fixed financing!

 
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