The Mentor-Apprentice Advantage

Over the past three years, the Center has partnered with the Seth Sprague Foundation to connect new housing counselors with mentors, certified counselors with extensive experience in foreclosure prevention. The mentorship program, which includes shadowing, collaboration, and ongoing discussion, is a valuable experience for everyone involved, and, in particular, the clients, who receive high quality […]

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The Value of Housing Counseling

In April, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $36 million in grants to support housing counseling work nationally. Over $2.1 million will go to 16 organizations across New York State, though only about 20% of that total (approximately $2 million) will go to organizations serving residents of New York City. New […]

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Equitable Resiliency and Flood Insurance

On Earth Day, Mayor de Blasio released his OneNYC plan, a blueprint of policies and goals intended to help make New York City more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. The “Resiliency” plank of the Mayor’s plan includes ensuring that the city’s infrastructure is robust enough to withstand the challenges of natural disasters and climate change. As […]

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Taking Action Against Scammers

Last week, the New York State Attorney General’s office announced a new judgment against two law firms involved in foreclosure rescue scams. The judgment ordered Litvin Law Firm; Litvin, Torrens & Associates, PLLC; and the firms’ principal attorney Gennady Litvin to immediately halt their illegal business practices and provide a full accounting so that the […]

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Spread the Word: Use AGScamHelp!

At the Center, we’re committed to fighting back against foreclosure rescue scammers who target homeowners in foreclosure. Last year, we partnered with the New York State Office of the Attorney General to create AGScamHelp, an easy to use web-based app created to help New Yorkers identify foreclosure rescue scams and report them to law enforcement. […]

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Tax Lien Sale Almost Here

Source: Government Technology Last month, the Center posted a blog about options that homeowners have to avoid the May 15th tax lien sale. Since then, the NYC Department of Finance released an updated 30-day list of properties on the tax lien sale list. While the number of 1-4 family homes on the list has fallen […]

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Combating the Rise of “Zombie” Homes

On Monday, the Center was proud to stand with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, State Senator Jeffrey Klein, and State Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein as they announced the introduction of new state legislation to combat the rise of “zombie homes.” “Zombies” are abandoned homes that are stuck in the foreclosure process, rapidly deteriorating with no one responsible […]

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April is Financial Capability Month

First declared by President Obama in March 2014, Financial Capability Month is a nationwide call to action to support informed financial decisions and build economic security for middle- and working- class Americans. According to an annual survey by NeighborWorks America, there was a 5% increase between 2014 and 2015 of people with absolutely no emergency […]

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Asset Rich and Cash Poor in Bed-Stuy

Posing with fellow presenters (L-R), Audra Barrow of the Law Office of Audra J. Barrow, Candi Hinton of Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc,  Eustace Greaves of Greaves Financial Services & The Bridge Insurance Agency, Masanna Johnson of Bridge Street Development Corporation, Don Eversley of Bridge Street Development Corporation, Idesta Severin of the Office of Financial Education […]

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Reverse Mortgages: Get the Facts

For many seniors with equity in their homes, reverse mortgages are an appealing opportunity. In a conventional mortgage, homeowners make monthly mortgage payments to their lender and build equity over time in their home. Conversely, in reverse mortgages, homeowners receive money from their lender, with the understanding that they are in essence drawing down equity […]

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