KB's club helps first-time buyers

When it came time to buy his first house, Corey Vaughn, 28, said he wasn't sure if he would qualify for a loan or how to begin the process, so he started by researching home-buying programs.

"I looked into several options," Vaughn said. "Then I talked to my sister and she suggested the KB Homebuyers Club."

The club offers free assistance to help potential buyers determine how much home they can afford, as well as how to save for a down payment and whether or not they prequalify for a loan.

"For many people, the hardest part of buying a new home is getting started," club counselor Phyllis DeVaull said. "We want to take the guesswork out of the process, so our clients can ... get excited about owning a home."

Services provided by the club include credit reports, reviews of the buyers' finances, and budgeting assistance.

"When I first looked at the budget and credit report guidelines, I thought `this is not going to happen.' ... The program helped me stay positive and stick to my dream. The people who run the program give you so much support. I felt like I was their only client," Vaughn said.

After six months, Vaughn purchased a home in the Iron Mountain Ranch community in the northwestern valley. Although they didn't plan it, he and his sister bought houses in the same neighborhood.

"Now if I need to help her hang a picture, I can just stop by on my way home," he said.

Through its home finding center, the builder also offers assistance locating a house within its more than 30 neighborhoods in the valley.

Both services are located in the builder's 22,000-square-foot design center at 7449 S. Industrial Road, Suite 201 in Las Vegas. The company's full-service mortgage company is located next door.

KB Home is one of the nation's largest home builders with operating divisions in some of the fastest-growing areas of the country. Kaufman & Broad S.A., its majority-owned subsidiary, is one of the largest home builders in France.

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