More help for public service workers towards home ownership
By
WINK News
Story Created:
May 8, 2008 at 11:15 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 9, 2008 at 4:11 PM EDT
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - We all know how much foreclosed homes are affecting people in our area. Recently the Lee County clerk said in April, the county handled more than 2,400 foreclosures. Triple the amount of last year. And for the first five days of May, they've had 306 foreclosure filings.
But one local organization is using that situation to help others in our area, who help us everyday.
"I'd like to put a couple palms. Some hedges around the back. Do I want barber stone in the front?" said teacher, Doug Tracy.
Tracy now has many decisions to make about his new Cape Coral home. The first-time owner has lived in Lee county for six years, but always rented. Until now.
" That's the greatest feeling. That you don't have to give money to someone else," he said.
Tracy says he owes it all to the non-profit organization - Herocare. The agency works with teachers, police officers, all public service workers. They help with things such as real estate, and financial planning.
Now they've joined forces with Foreclosure Tours R Us, to create even more homeowners.
"We looked for a way to take all the foreclosures that are happening and utilize it as a way to provide affordable or attainable housing for a lot of our area workforce," said Herocare founder, Lane Houk.
With the partnership, clients will ride free on the foreclosure bus to look at homes, and get specialized financing programs. The public service workers will also see new homes only available to them.
"It's not just they get a new home, but they're happy. And now you know we're going to keep them here," said Houk.
And for Tracy, the new title of home owner does make all the difference in the world.
"I don't have to pay rent anymore," he said.
Herocare
1-877-437-6411 Ext. 1
8695 College Parkway Ste. 219
Fort Myers
Friday, May 9 at 1:29 PM Melba Goliszeski wrote ...
Correction, I meant to say Lane Houk (Herocare founder) when I wrote down Doug Tracy's name. Please correct and edit my previous comment I sent in.
Friday, May 9 at 12:32 PM Melba Goliszeski wrote ...
I was really appalled when I saw this story. Not that I mind anyone helping service workers, but where was Doug Tracy when families where losing their homes? Why did not anyone help those people? I found it particularly annoying when you showed what appeared to be a young, single male teacher in a brand new house. What did he think about the people that were displaced? It seems very callous. Also, I am quite sure Doug Tracy is not in it for the "good of it" rather than just to make a profit.
Friday, May 9 at 11:14 AM citizen wrote ...
Why weren't programs installed to help these people when prices were spiraling out of control? It's a little unfair to favor them now at the expense of regular people looking for a home whose only crime is being... regular people? In the current market if a teacher, nurse, ect can't get a home on their salary, than we have much bigger problems than we thought. We are all Americans and should enjoy the same opportunities. One person shouldn't take precedence over a another based on their job.
Friday, May 9 at 10:10 AM John Smith wrote ...
At first this sounds like a good idea, but what about everyone else looking for a home? Is an order of importance being established here? How is it fair to the rest of us to have agencies working hard to cut us out of the loop? It was stated that these men and women would get to see houses not even available to the rest of us. I don't deny that these people work hard every day, but you know what, so do the rest of us and we should all enjoy the same opportunities.
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