To help at-risk homeowners in San Benito County prevent their homes from going into foreclosure, the City of Hollister and the county are hosting a foreclosure prevention workshop on April 25 at the Veterans Memorial Building in conference room 204.
County Housing Programs Coordinator Christopher "C.J." Valenzuela said he has been working on the idea of this program since he started working for the county and he is excited to bring it forward.
"I'm really excited about it and it will be a benefit to the community," Valenzuela said. "This information is much needed in the community."
The workshop will be presented in both English and Spanish and will cover topics ranging from the entire foreclosure process to loan modification options.
The guest speaker will be Francisco Casas, who is the housing programs coordinator for the City of Hollister and a NeighborWorks Certified Housing Counselor.
Valenzuela said that in the county, there are a total of 875 properties in foreclosure, which include houses that have received a notice of default, are being auctioned off and bank-owned properties. The properties include houses in the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista.
"This gave us a snapshot of what is in front of us," he said.
The city and county will be providing information on how homeowners can modify their loans, the associated laws, short-sale opportunities and foreclosure strategies, Valenzuela said.
"This is an opportunity for foreclosure owners to come in and ask questions," he said. "We will be giving the latest information and what to expect."
If there is more demand for workshops like this in the future, Valenzuela said he will continue to keep trying to meet the demand.
Similarly, the city and county are going to be applying for housing grants in the near future to start programs to revitalize the housing market. Valenzuela said the money will go toward projects such as a house rehabilitation program and downpayment funding for first-time home buyers.
The workshop has limited seating, so if you would like to attend, contact Valenzuela to RSVP a seat by phone at 637-1763 or by e-mail at cvalenzuela@planning.co.san-benito.ca.us.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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