The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership has announced that the first free Atlanta BeltLine Home Buyer Education Workshop will be held Saturday, December 9, 2017, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Ariel Bowen United Methodist Church, 384 Arthur St. SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30310. This new workshop offering compliments a series of free empowerment workshops ABP began offering to existing homeowners in late 2016. The ninth in this series of workshops was held November 18 at Southside Medical Center.
 
With the recent opening of the Westside Trail and Phase 1 of the Eastside Trail extension, people are more interested than ever in buying homes along the Atlanta BeltLine. For many – especially first-time home buyers – the process of finding and purchasing the right home can seem complex, even overwhelming. ABP has partnered with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, HomePlace Consulting,SUMMECH Community Development Corporation and Citizens Trust Bank to offer a free, day-long workshop designed to ensure that low- and moderate-income individuals looking to purchase a home along the Atlanta BeltLine have access to the programs and services that can help make sure that the home they find is right for them.
 
This free, HUD-approved class will help aspiring home buyers assess their readiness for homeownership, determine how much home they can afford, expand their knowledge of money management and credit, and understand the roles of the load officer, inspector, appraiser and other real estate professionals they will encounter during the buying process. Attendees will learn about metro Atlanta’s various down payment assistance programs. The class adheres to the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling administered by SUMMECH Community Development Corporation. Completion of this class meets the requirements for a variety of down payment assistance programs available in Atlanta. A light lunch will be provided.
 
“The free homeowner empowerment workshops we’ve been offering since late 2016 have proven to be extremely popular,” said ABP Deputy Executive Director David A. Jackson. “Offering a workshop geared toward prospective home buyers is a logical extension of the work we do to connect Atlanta BeltLine residents with the resources necessary to help them make informed homeownership decisions. We appreciate the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, HomePlace Consulting, SUMMECH and Citizens Trust Bank in helping us put this new workshop together.”
 
“Our relationship with the Atlanta Beltline Partnership represents a great opportunity for Citizens Trust Bank to continue its 96-year legacy of empowerment and sustain our presence in the communities we serve,” said Yulanda Munford, Citizens Trust Bank Mortgage Division Manager. “Through the partnership, we are proud to continue to offer home buyer education and valuable resources needed to make dreams of homeownership a reality for more of the citizens in our communities.”
 
For more information or to register for the workshop, visit beltline.org/event/home-buyer-empowerment-workshop/, email [email protected] or call 404-446-4410.