Homeowner Questions Answered
Foreclosure and the Housing Crisis


LINCOLN COUNTY -- A panel of housing and finance professionals will convene to provide information and resources for homeowners facing the possibility of foreclosure. Homeowners who are in default on their mortgage or who believe they may become delinquent on their payment in the future should attend Housing 101 to learn more about housing counseling and the foreclosure timeline.

Housing 101 panelists include an attorney in private practice; attorneys from Legal Services of NC, Inc.; real estate agents; consumer credit counselors from Family Service, Inc.; certified housing counselors and lenders. They will talk briefly about refinance options, talking with lenders, the series of notices in the mail, homeowner rights, short sales and real estate trends, the legal implications of foreclosure and how foreclosure affects the credit score.

“Recent statistics show that Lincoln County was eleventh in the number of foreclosure filings in North Carolina. In fact, there were 31 new families facing this in May 2008.” reports Leigh Guth, with NC Cooperative Extension. “Families need coaching through the process, and hopefully some families can avoid losing their homes.” Guth will moderate the panel and facilitate questions from the audience.

Housing 101 is an educational program offered at no charge to the public. Due to space limitations, reservations are required and can be made by calling 704-736-8461 by the day prior to the program. Housing 101 will be offered on Tuesday night, July 29th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Extension office, James Warren Citizen Center, 115 West Main Street, Lincolnton. In Denver, it will be offered on Saturday, August 2nd from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm at the Shanklin Library, 7837 Fairfield Forest Road in Denver.

For more information, contact Leigh Guth, North Carolina Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent, at (704) 736-8461.