Economic Opportunity Board: A home of their own

Among the many programs offered by the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County is its Home Center, which helps low- to moderate-income people qualify to buy a home.

Interest in the center has nearly doubled since it opened in 1999, according to administrator Angela Quinn.

"I think that the Home Center is serving a need of our community, especially for the Hispanic population, because we offer information in both English and Spanish, (and because) all of our services are available at one location," Quinn said.

A dozen first-time buyers have participated in the agency's single-family home development program, which was launched in 2001. Through the program, the EOB helps manage the construction of new homes on in-fill sites. The homes are then sold to those meeting income requirements, which include that the buyer earn no more than 80 percent of the area's median income. Each buyer must also complete an eight-hour home-buyer education class and qualify for a mortgage.

"Since we began this program, 12 homes have been built and sold in the Vegas Heights area of Las Vegas and also in North Las Vegas. There are another six under construction, and 15 are in the predevelopment phase. We've received a tremendous response, and we already have buyers for those homes in predevelopment," said Quinn, noting that each buyer also gains instant equity with their purchase.

"Because we are selling the home for its actual cost to build, and because some of the construction costs are subsidized, the houses will appraise at more than what we sell them for ..."

North Las Vegas resident Jesus Vera was among the first participants.

"We had been thinking about buying a home, but we were afraid of getting ripped off. I had heard about people being taken advantage of by real estate agents and loan officers who ask them for a lot of money, and I was afraid of that happening," Vera said.

"I heard about the EOB program through someone at Wells Fargo (Bank) and contacted the EOB. I learned that buying a home is very easy, and the process went very smooth. They helped make my dream of owning a home come true."

Vera and his wife, Adela, completed the home-buyer education class, obtained a mortgage through a prescreened lender, and qualified for down-payment assistance. The couple and their three children moved into their home last summer.

A landscaper by trade, Vera plans to design the back yard of his home. His new residence measures 1,388 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths.

"My home is very big," he said. "We're used to living in a much smaller place. I like all of the space that we have and all of the open area. It's fabulous."

Linda Hill, a Clark County School District employee, also participated in the program.

"I found out about (EOB) from someone at Bank of America when I was talking to her about real estate. I had been thinking about buying a home, but not very seriously. I actually had been looking at condos because I didn't think that I could afford a house. I had no idea that I could get a new home ... I was very surprised," Hill said.

She was able to purchase a four-bedroom, two-bath home in North Las Vegas last April. Hill shares the 1,587-square-foot residence with her 16-year-old son and 5-year-old nephew.

"My house is about eight blocks away from where I had been renting, my parents live about 16 blocks away, and I attended junior high a few blocks away, so I am very familiar with the neighborhood," Hill said.

"I was so excited that I was going to be able to buy a new home. I only had to wait six months for it to be built. I got to pick out the colors of my carpet, the flooring, counter tops, and the tile roof, and I had the choice of having a column in my family room. All appliances and the ceiling fan in my bedroom were included, too."

Evelyn Reed, also a new-home owner, learned about the EOB through her mother.

"... She told me that I needed to go down and see what the first-time home buyer program was all about," said Reed, a grandmother of six and assistant manager at a retail store. "I was thinking about trying to buy a house, but I never thought that I really could. My mom thought I could, and she kind of pushed me.

"I was so excited to move into my home in October 2001. It was right at the time of my birthday and I was really excited that we could have a big family gathering in my new home."

After completing program requirements, Reed was able to buy a 1,316-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two baths. She and her son share the home.

"... I'm here in my house to stay put, and I don't want to move anywhere anytime soon. It seems like every two or three years or so that I have been in a U-Haul moving. I've rented my last U-Haul," Reed said.

Buyers are selected for the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Home Center is located at 3674 N. Rancho Drive, Suite 32. For more information, visit the center or call 647-7816. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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