The City of Gilroy is sponsoring a free Project Sentinel Workshop geared at preparing people to become successful first-time homebuyers.
The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at the Gilroy Public Library located at 350 W. Sixth St. The workshop is free and a working lunch is provided, according to Sandra Nava for the City of Gilroy.
“I think that when people are well informed, they make better choices,” Nava said.
Project Sentinel is a nonprofit with offices across northern California that assists individuals with a plethora of housing issues ranging from discrimination to reverse mortgages, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“This will be a safe place to ask questions,” Nava added.Â
Participants of the workshop will learn the essentials of homeownership, including:
•Reviewing the process and responsibilities of ownership
•Assessing your financial qualifications for purchase
•Understanding the impact of your credit record and tips to improve it
•How to navigate the loan approval process
•Working with realtors and lenders
•Making an offer and negotiating the final deal
•Handling the mechanics of escrow and the overall purchase process
•Protecting your new investment after the purchase is completed
People interested in attending the workshop must enroll in advance of the event, according to Nava.
After successful completion of the program, attendees will receive a Fannie Mae certificate. The certificate could help with eligibility for South County Housing programs that offer financial assistance for homebuyers, Nava said.
For more information about the event, or to enroll, contact Sandra Nava, City of Gilroy at 408-846-0290 or
sa*********@ci**********.org