We met with the Wright family several weeks ago and heard of their difficult time during the mortgage crisis. Like many Americans, they’ve had difficulty making ends meet during the recession and were on the verge of losing their home. Rather than wait for foreclosure to happen, the Wrights made the most of the help [...]
Continue reading...5. March 2010
Mark your calendars! On March 11th, the Urban League will be hosting a workshop designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs the information they need to put their plans into action. The event will feature presenters from U.S. Bank and the Missouri Small Business Development Center. They will discuss a number of pertinent topics, such as how [...]
Continue reading...29. January 2010
Cuba, a small city just southwest of St. Louis, caught our attention several months ago as a community that has weathered the recession exceptionally well. We had the opportunity to visit the town and discuss Cuba’s success with local leaders. Among the most important factors we observed were Cuba’s strong economic leadership and extensive planning. [...]
Continue reading...28. January 2010
The explosive popularity of reverse mortgages and the flood of advertisements that followed have spread a number of misconceptions about reverse mortgages. Buz addresses a number of them in this video, explaining what reverse mortgages are and aren’t. He also talks about popular scams and how to avoid them. Look for the final video of [...]
Continue reading...26. January 2010
Several weeks ago, Lauren had a conversation with Buz Zeman of Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (HOPE), an organization that counsels seniors on mortgages and other housing issues. Buz said that he has had to devote much of his time lately to explaining reverse mortgages. Though this sort of loan is not new, it’s [...]
Continue reading...25. January 2010
In this video, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay suggests that anyone facing foreclosure or in trouble with their mortgage seek assistance and determine if they are eligible for the Refinance and Loan Modification program. More information can be found at www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.
Continue reading...25. January 2010
In this video, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley encourages those facing financial hardship or anyone who fears losing their home to seek assistance. Tax-payer funded, HUD-certified housing counselors offer services at no charge, and can assist someone facing foreclosure with discussing options with their lender. For information or to connect to resources, call the [...]
Continue reading...25. January 2010
In this video, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster talks about how to avoid scams that prey on people during times of economic hardship. When seeking foreclosure prevention counseling or loan modification assistance, never pay up-front fees before services are rendered. Tax-payer funded, HUD-certified housing counselors offer services at no charge. If you encounter what you [...]
Continue reading...16. December 2009
As the rate of foreclosures accelerates across the U.S. following the sub-prime mortgage crisis, so does the number of scam operations aimed at taking advantage of struggling homeowners. People experiencing financial problems and/or foreclosure are vulnerable targets—often desperate to save their homes and livelihood at any cost. It is important that every homeowner, regardless [...]
Continue reading...4. December 2009
The Public Insight Network has served Channel 9 well in helping us gauge the effects of the mortgage crisis on the St. Louis community. We recently sent out an email asking members to describe how the recession has affected their college plans. The responses of two residents show ways the community is adjusting to the [...]
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1. April 2010
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