Santa Paula and Fillmore residents who want to learn how to protect their home investment and other alternatives to foreclosure are encouraged to attend a free, half-day “Credit Smart” workshop on October 11 at the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 West Main Street, on “Foreclosure Prevention” and “Preserving Home Ownership: Protecting Your Home Investment.”
The credit smart workshop, sponsored by Freddie Mac and The Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, (REFAT), is being held to assist local residents interested in being more financially literate and learning how to avoid the threat of foreclosure.
The workshop will also cover topics on how to avoid becoming a victim of predatory lending practices.
The class session will run from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., with registration beginning at 8:30 A.M. A Spanish translation will also be available.
“This credit smart workshop will be very beneficial for anyone who would eventually like to own their own home, said Fernando Campos, chairman of the REFAT marketing committee. The course will demonstrate how to establish a good relationship with a financial institution and how to prepare for obtaining a mortgage
Other topics to be covered include how to maintain a good credit record, understanding credit scoring and how to avoid credit traps. Special emphasis will also be put on the growing problem of identity theft and unscrupulous loan scams.
With more families facing foreclosures, a new module has also been added to the class, Campos said, on how to avoid the pitfalls leading up to foreclosure.
The October 11 program is the fourth in a series of educational outreach programs throughout the county that Freddie Mac and The Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, (REFAT), have been conducting as part of the “Don’t Borrow Trouble—Ventura County” campaign. REFAT was established in conjunction with the District Attorney’s real estate fraud prosecution program to make the public more aware of predatory practices in the county.
Due to limited seating, advance registration is recommended, and may be made by calling (805) 340-4168, or by registering online at dbt.education@yahoo.com.