Financial Recovery Clinic, Sat. March 27th @ Groveton High School, 8:30 - 1:00. Free credit reports & lunch for all participants!!
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affordable housing education and developmentNews and Events
Homeowners Who Receive Foreclosure Counseling Are Sixty Percent More Likely to Avoid Foreclosure than Homeowners Who Don’t Seek CounselingNFMC Program Counselors Help Homeowners Reduce Their Mortgage Payments an Average of More Than $5,000 per YearLittleton, NH,– Today AHEAD announced that homeowners who receive foreclosure counseling are 60 percent more likely to avoid losing their homes to foreclosure than homeowners who do not receive foreclosure counseling, according to findings in a recent report of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program. AHEAD is a grantee of the NFMC program, and an affiliate of NeighborWorks America, which was selected by Congress to administer a homeowner counseling program to address the national foreclosure crisis. As a result of NFMC Program funding, northern New Hampshire families along with families across the nation who sought and received foreclosure counseling were provided much needed information, assistance and guidance to address their risk of foreclosure, which helped them find a solution to foreclosure. The report, which analyzed NFMC Program activity during the first year of the program (January 1-December 31, 2008) also found that NFMC Program clients were more likely to receive a loan modification than homeowners who did not receive counseling, and NFMC Program clients who received loan modifications lowered their mortgage payments significantly more than homeowners who received loan modifications without NFMC Program counseling. NFMC Program clients, with the help of their counselors, secured loan modifications that lowered their monthly mortgage payments $454 more than the clients who received modifications without foreclosure counseling, which results in an average annual savings of $5,448. “We hear stories every day about how our counseling works and now we have empirical data that proves it” said David Wood, executive director of AHEAD. While the report analyzes the program data through December 31, 2008, to date more than 750,000 families have received foreclosure counseling as a result of NFMC Program funding. The NFMC Program was created by Congress to address the nationwide foreclosure crisis by dramatically increasing the availability of housing counseling for families at risk of foreclosure. The $180 million program was authorized through the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Bill, which named NeighborWorks as its administrator. An additional $180 million was appropriated to this effort on July 30, 2008 through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, and the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 appropriated another $50 million to the program on March 11, 2009. For more information about the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, visit www.nw.org/nfmc. Homeowners in northern New Hampshire area who would like to receive foreclosure counseling at AHEAD can contact Nicole Marsh, (nmarsh@homesahead.org or visit our web site – www.homesahead.org – for additional information. Northern New Hampshire homeowners can also visit www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org to find additional NFMC Program-funded counseling agencies in our area.
AHEAD Honors Partners, Volunteers and Friends at our 2009 Annual Meeting DinnerApproximately 100 guests gathered at the AMC Highland Center on
Larry Kelley was honored as AHEAD's first "Frederick W. Griffin" award recipient. The "Freddie" award is given annually to a long-term AHEAD contributor who has shown unselfish and consistent support to AHEAD. In an organization whose key mission is to strengthen the long-term sustainability and stability of northern New Hampshire communities, this award was given to to Larry as he has consistently gone above and beyond in demonstrating his faith in and support for AHEAD and our mission.
Anna Todd was recognized as AHEAD's 2008 Homebuyer of the Year. Anna has overcome many obstacles in her life, and used her IDA account to assist her in purchasing her home. Congrats Anna!
AHEAD Advises on How to Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scam Littleton, NH. — Facing foreclosure is a terrifying time for any homeowner. With the foreclosure rate at an all-time high and the nation in economic crisis, as many as 8 million American homeowners are expected to face foreclosure through 2012, according to industry studies. Scam artists see this crisis as a prime opportunity to make money off of homeowners in danger of losing their homes.
The so-called mortgage “rescue” companies use simple messages in print, broadcast, and online ads to hook in homeowners facing foreclosure or other financial difficulty. They may contact homeowners directly, offering help for a fee. They may imply they are associated with NeighborWorks® the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), HOPE NOW, and other reputable organizations to gain a homeowner’s trust, personal information and money. AHEAD urges homeowners who need help to beware of foreclosure rescue scams, and offers the following tips to avoid them:
For more information about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, visit www.financialstability.gov. For more information about AHEAD or to schedule an appointment, visit www.homesahead.org or call (603) 444-1377. AHEAD Offers Full Support to the Obama Administration’sEfforts to Combat ForeclosureNonprofit Foreclosure Counseling Continues to be EssentialRecently new details of the Obama administration’s plan to prevent foreclosure and stabilize communities were announced and AHEAD is committing its full support to the plan’s scope and strategy. Details of the plan clearly demonstrate the Administration’s focus on supporting foreclosure prevention and neighborhood stabilization initiatives that will help the largest number of homeowners.
“This is a promising step forward for millions of homeowners who are worried about losing their homes,” said Lori Wiggett, AHEAD’s HomeOwnership Center Director. The programs detailed today give hope and important guidance to millions of homeowners who thought that the only solution to their mortgage trouble was foreclosure. Foreclosure doesn’t have to happen.”
AHEAD and other HUD certified counseling organizations – important parts of the President’s foreclosure prevention plan -- stand ready to do their part to help qualified homeowners prepare to talk to their lender and to take full advantage of the bold plan announced by the Obama administration.
Long-Term Loan Modifications
In addition to low-cost refinancing and lower mortgage interest rates, the President's plan gets out in front of the foreclosure problem and creates a standard for loan modification. AHEAD is pleased to see modifications completed under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan must be in place for at least five years, and that under the plan, a homeowner’s mortgage debt-to-income ratio will be brought down to 31 percent. However, we maintain that in order achieve sustainable homeownership, loan modifications must be sustainable over the course of the loan.
The Importance of Nonprofit Foreclosure Intervention Counseling
Community-based foreclosure intervention counseling provided by nonprofit certified counselors is a critical part of the foreclosure prevention process. Nonprofit counselors help homeowners understand their options and the steps they can take to stay in their homes. For more information about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, visit www.financialstability.gov.
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AHEAD: Affordable Housing Education and Development 161 Main St.  Littleton, NH
03561 603-444-1377
Fax: 603-444-0707info@homesahead.org ®2010 all rights reserved site design notchnet |
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AHEAD is pleased to welcome Jane Newland as our new Director of Property Management as AHEAD prepares to assume the management responsibilities for 335 units of our affordable housing portfolio. 
the constant worrying about his currentliving conditions. 
throughout his life. He is emplyed with A.G. Edwards, now Wachovia Securities, where he is a Vice President of Investments. Ken has been a member of AHEAD’s Finance Committee for three years, is Vice Chair of the Board for Cottage Hospital in Woodsville and is active in many community groups and events.
28 ft. extension ladder during NeighborWorks® Week, the bank tellers stuffing envelopes in preparation for our annual appeal, or Jan Carver helping us convert pdf’s to jpeg’s, their efforts to help move our organization forward has been outstanding. Larry, Terry, Shannon, Ann, Dan, Barbara, Jan and all of the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank employees, congratulations on the being named AHEAD’s 2007 Partner of the Year.