by Alex Morales
On Saturday March 23, 2013, The Resurrection Project (TRP) participated in the State of Illinois’ Homebuyer Expo that took place at the Illinois Institute of Technology campus. Organized by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the event offered a variety of loan solutions that combined affordable mortgages and as much as $10,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance for first-time homebuyers.
The Homebuyer Expo was created to help families understand the options available to them as prospective homebuyers, and of the products and services that could help them achieve their dreams. Buying a home helps a family build wealth, but it also benefits the local economy. For example, according to the Illinois Association of Realtors, 500 homes purchased supports 250 full-time jobs and generates almost $20 million in economic activity.
TRP was excited to take part in this first-time event, since helping families buy quality homes is a key component of our work to create healthy communities. Through our Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) work in Back of the Yards, TRP has rehabilitated foreclosed properties into quality homes for sale at below-market prices for low- and moderate-income families. In addition, our TRP Realty program is a one-stop-shop that offers the financial education to help families learn how to become long-term homeowners, and the professional real estate brokerage services to help them find and purchase the home of their dreams.
Approximately 130 families who attended the Homebuyer Expo are now on the path to homeownership. After pre-qualifying for safe and affordable mortgage products and down payment and closing cost assistance, the next step for these families is to find their dream home. The good news is that this is a great time to start looking for that new home. The Illinois Association of Realtors highlights a 31% increase in home sales when compared to 2012 numbers. The increase is a good indicator that consumer confidence is improving and families are ready to invest in the purchase of a home—and that the state’s economic recovery is advancing.
“This is the right time for families to take advantage of sustainable good mortgages, and cash assistance for qualified first-time homebuyers,” says Rodrigo Carrillo, TRP’s Financial Services manager. “The economy is recovering, and as consumer confidence increases, more families gear up to make their dreams of homeownership a reality.”
TRP is grateful to IHDA for hosting a very successful Homebuyer Expo, and is ready to help area families become successful homeowners. For more information about our TRP Realty and home purchase program, please contact us at 312-666-1323.

Return to Nueva Vida May 2013 here.