Competitive market heightened the need for housing education On the heels of the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 came the hottest real-estate market that Pittsburgh has seen in decades. Although it didn’t change what first-time buyers were looking for in a home, it did increase the challenge for them to make a purchase, says Jonathan Weaver,
Read MoreAverage house prices in Western Pennsylvania continue to be near all-time record highs. Wouldn’t it be nice if first-time homebuyers could get some help? Through the First Front Door (FFD) program, funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, they can. Qualified homebuyers receive up to $5,000 in assistance toward down-payments and closing costs.
Read MoreBuying your first home? You may be able to get up to $5,000 towards down payment and closing costs through the First Front Door (FFD) program, funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. Under FFD, qualified homebuyers can receive a 3-to-1 matching contribution from a participating FFD lender. That means that for every
Read MoreIf you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home, you’ll be interested in two informational free events in March. On March 9, Bonnie Halinka, a real estate agent with Century 21 Frontier Realty, will join Jonathan Weaver, MVI housing counselor, for the third “Homebuyer’s Club” of 2022. Bonnie will answer questions about
Read MorePennsylvania homeowners facing foreclosure or other financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for help. The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund will help homeowners whose annual household income is at or below 150 percent of the area median. The program is designed to prevent or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, displacements and utility
Read MoreThinking about buying a house this year? You’d better be ready to deal with “closing costs.” Join us at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 4, when Ted George of Huntington National Bank answers your questions about the mortgage process … including closing costs. To participate in the conversation, sign up online at Zoom. For more information,
Read MoreThe Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has recognized MVI’s Jonathan Weaver as one of the best housing counseling specialists in the state. Weaver was one of only seven housing counselors statewide—and one of only two in Western Pennsylvania—so honored during PHFA’s biennial ceremony. “Housing decisions represent a large portion of a person’s monthly budget, so it’s
Read MoreUsually, the best time to buy a house is in the late summer or early fall — but 2020 is turning out to be anything but a usual year. With the economy expected to tip into a recession, homebuying is probably the last thing on many people’s minds. On the other hand, mortgage rates are
Read MoreMVI housing counselor offers tips, help for homeowners Homeowners who have been laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic should act quickly to see if mortgage payments and other bills can be temporarily deferred. That’s the advice of Jonathan Weaver, a housing counselor at Mon Valley Initiative, who says most lenders are willing to be
Read MoreAbove: State Rep. Austin Davis and Laura R. Zinski, chief executive officer of Mon Valley Initiative. Austin Davis grew up hearing stories about how prosperous the Mon Valley was in the 1950s and 1960s. “That’s never been my reality,” said Davis, who recently turned 30. Now, as a state legislator from McKeesport, Davis said he
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