HomeHome InsuranceWe’ve reached the end of “At Home on the Greater West Side”

We’ve reached the end of “At Home on the Greater West Side”


Last November, Austin Weekly News launched a new project called “At Home on the Greater West Side.” Our goal was to demystify the homebuying process, specifically for residents of Austin, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale and the surrounding suburbs.

Now, a year later, we’re wrapping up the series. In many ways, AWN learned along with its readers, and if we’ve learned anything, it’s that the journey to homeownership isn’t exactly easy. But that doesn’t mean you — yes you! — can’t achieve it.

1. Get realistic and take a class

Realtor Camella Sutton tells her clients to be realistic about what they can afford, and to save up for the “what-ifs”: “Knowing what’s out there is big, and [so is] knowing what you can and can’t afford,” she said. “What are you willing to cut back on? What sacrifices are you willing to make to get to the point of homeownership?”

It might seem obvious, but you need a combination of loans and savings to buy a home. Experts suggest building up your credit score as much as possible and being realistic about how much you need to save for a downpayment on your ideal home. Real estate agents, lenders and community organizations can all help you with this early planning stage.

Many experts recommend HUD-certified homeownership courses to first-time buyers. We spoke with the folks at Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago about their class, but there are tons of other options. HUD also has an online tool to search for housing counselors or courses based on your location and needs.



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