Nonprofit Coastal Housing Partnership Celebrates 30 Years Making Homeownership Possible for Local Employees

2017 Home Buying Fairs to be held May 6, July 12 and Oct. 28

SANTA BARBARA — Wenda and her husband were raised in Goleta. After they married, they dreamed of raising their family here, but thought that owning a home would never be within reach. When she discovered Coastal Housing Partnership at her employer’s benefit fair, she was able to establish a path to home ownership. Furnished with resources and information, they now own a home here where they are raising their family. They are just one of the more than 10,000 local employees who have been able to buy homes with the help of Coastal Housing Partnership over the past 30 years.

Since forming in 1987, the Coastal Housing Partnership mission has largely remained the same: help local employees remove some of the obstacles to homeownership, making it possible for them to remain in the community. As the need grew due to ever-increasing home prices, so did Coastal Housing Partnership, going from a small organization operated out of the executive director’s garage to a nonprofit that, to-date, has more than 50 member employers who collectively employ more than 45,000 people.

“Housing is by far the biggest obstacle for employees to remain in our community” said Coastal Housing Partnership executive director Corby Gage, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years. “It is a great honor to be of service and hear the incredible gratitude from workers who are now proud homeowners.”

Coastal Housing Partnership has continued to expand the benefits and resources it offers through its employer membership model. Benefits include home buying education programs and events, home buying savings provided through a network of local partners, as well as mortgage refinance savings. To help renters, Coastal Housing partners with many local landlords, who have agreed to offer leases at select properties at reduced rates.

Coastal Housing Partnership is celebrating its three decades of success with three Home Buying Fairs designed for first-time home buyers, move-up buyers or anyone even thinking about buying a home. All three fairs are open to the public as well as 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 Santa Barbara and Ventura counties throughout the year since 1999.

Wenda’s eyes were opened to her home buying power when she attended just such a Coastal Housing Partnership presentation. She was empowered by the abundance of information and resources Coastal Housing Partnership offered, helping her feel more prepared in navigating the process of homeownership.

“The resources of Coastal Housing Partnership helped us get started and kept me thinking, ‘this could really happen,’” said Wenda. “I was struck by what there was to learn about credit and savings, and now I know that it’s never too early to start thinking and planning to buy a home.”

The 2017 Home Buying Fairs will feature:

  • Exhibitors: local lenders, real estate agents, residential developers, credit & financial service firms and other housing-related professionals who can answer questions in a no-pressure setting.
  • Education: local experts will present short home buying education sessions throughout the day on key aspects of the home buying process, refinancing options, and local market conditions.
  • Prizes & Giveaways: drawings and special prizes for attendees

The events will be held as follows:

  • May 6: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara
  • July 12: 5-8 p.m. at Deckers Rotunda, Corner of Hollister and Los Carneros, Goleta
  • October 28: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura

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 11,000 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.