Two more fairs planned for organization’s 30th Anniversary year
From left, Coastal Housing Partnership Board Member Kelly Marsh, Broadview Mortgage; Board President Beth Sparkes, The Towbes Group; Executive Director Corby Gage; and Board Member Teri Gauthier, Union Bank, enjoy the Home Buying Fair at The Fess Parker Doubletree Resort on May 6. Courtesy photo.
CENTRAL COAST — Hundreds of South Coast employees came through Coastal Housing Partnership’s Home Buying Fair May 6 and found a wealth of information on making the often elusive dream of local homeownership a reality.
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, local nonprofit Coastal Housing Partnership held the first of three 2017 Home Buying Fairs over the weekend at The Fess Parker Doubletree Resort. The event was designed for first-time home buyers, move-up buyers or anyone even thinking about buying a home. Attendees circulated between the popular short education seminars and talking directly with experts in lending, real estate and more.
“We are thrilled with the diverse turnout of local employees who chose to spend time with us on a Saturday, showing the vital need for resources and information about the home buying process,” said Coastal Housing Partnership Executive Director Corby Gage, who has been leading the organization for more than 20 years. “The hurdles to homeownership also account for the biggest challenge for our local businesses attempting to retain a skilled workforce. For 30 years now, we have found that the education we provide, including our fairs and education seminars, can be as important as the money we are able to save home buyers through our dedicated network of program partners.”
The upcoming 2017 fairs will also be open the public and employees of Coastal Housing Partnership’s member employers and will feature information on navigating the home buying process and today’s real estate market. Nearly 2,000 people have visited the annual Home Buying Fairs since 2012. Thousands more have realized their home buying power at Coastal Housing Partnership’s home buying seminars and member employer benefit events offered throughout the year Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Registration is now open for the July 12 Home Buying Fair, 5-8 p.m. at Deckers Rotunda, 6601 Hollister, Goleta (corner of Hollister and Los Carneros). The third fair will be held in Ventura, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd.
The Home Buying Fairs are presented by Broadview Mortgage, JoAnn Pomatto-Gomez- Pacific Coast Realty, Montecito Bank & Trust, Village Properties Realtors, The Towbes Group, Cottage Health and UCSB.
For more information, visit coastalhousing.org or contact Corby Gage at corby@coastalhousing.org.
About Coastal Housing Partnership: As a partner with local employers, Coastal Housing Partnership helps employers meet the challenge of attracting and retaining employees in a region with some of the highest housing prices in the nation. Since 1987, Coastal Housing Partnership has helped over 10,000 local employees become homeowners through their education programs and benefits, which are provided through a network of local real estate partners. More than 12,000 tri-county residents have attended Coastal Housing Partnership’s home buying seminars. Membership in Coastal Housing Partnership is open to any employer in Santa Barbara County or Ventura County. http://www.CoastalHousing.org.