LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Lima residents met local professionals to learn what resources are out there to help them buy a home.
Mercy Health's Club 129 invited anyone who is thinking about buying to their Let's Buy a House Party. Guests could tour a house that is currently for sale, and whether or not they were interested in it, they could talk to a realtor, financial experts, and a city employee about every step of the home buying process and get some advice. They learned that even if money is tight or their credit score isn't the greatest, there are programs available that can help you improve your finances or meet you where you are.
"I do actually think that a lot of people do not know that help is available to them, and they are shocked that we actually still do have grant programs available this late in the year," said Alexis Hensley, a mortgage loan officer with The Federal Savings Bank.
"There are plenty of opportunities that can help people, especially with rebuilding their credit, and it's having a free look on how we get your credit score to increase so we can qualify for different loans," added Darren Bass, a financial representative and mortgage lender with Primerica.
The event is part of Mercy Health's holistic initiative to improve health outcomes in one of the most at-risk census tracts in the city.
"You're not going to go to the doctor if you're not sure if you have electricity or if you're not sure if you have a home to go sleep at. You're not worried about making it to your next health screening if that's the case. But if we have our own space, we have our own home, we have that sense of security, then we can start breaking some generational curses where we can build wealth," explained Carla Thompson, the community resource navigator for Mercy Health St. Rita's.
Experts recommend that those who are looking to buy a home hold off on big financial decisions like buying a car or changing jobs until closing.
