Tulsa Home Ownership Month

By Local Report    
Thursday, 01 June 2006
June is National Home Ownership Month and Home Ownership Tulsa (HOT) is coordinating and assisting with multiple events aimed at boosting private home ownership.

Studies in many cities have shown that neighborhoods with high percentages of privately owned homes enjoy lower crime rates and higher property values than neighborhoods dominated by rental property.

Increasing private home ownership is the goal of HOT and its partners. Partners include lending institutions, builders and developers, pertinent government agencies and other companies and individuals who share the goal of promoting home ownership.

While HOT works year-round to help Tulsans realize the security and peace of mind that comes with owning one’s home, several events are planned in coming weeks in conjunction with National Home Ownership Month. Among them are:

June 1 – July 13  Home Buyer Education Classes for Hurricane Katrina Victims.  The Katrina Self-Advocacy Coalition, Housing Partners of Tulsa, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)  Tulsa Field Office and the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League are partnering to offer homebuyer education classes to Katrina victims in Tulsa. All Katrina victims who have an identification number issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are eligible to purchase HUD homes at a 10 percent discount.

Classes will be offered at the Urban League’s office at 240 E. Apache. To enroll or get additional information, call the Urban League at 584-0001.

June 3 – Home Ownership Sunday/Oklahoma African American Homeownership Initiative (OAAHI).  All Tulsa-area ministers and faith-based leaders are encouraged to include a message about home ownership in their sermons and bulletins. Talking points and statistical support can be requested by contacting OAAHI through the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce at 585-2084.

June 3 – NeighborWorks Week Home Ownership Fair; Plaza Santa Cecilia at 22nd and South Garnett.  There will be hot dogs, pizza, a Jupiter Jump, face-painting and other activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. Throughout the rest of the week  there are other homeownership-related classes and activities, including first-time home buyers orientation and financial education classes from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on June 6 at the Community Action Project’s Exchange Center Office, 4606 S. Garnett Road. Classes will be in English and Spanish.  There will also be open houses at newly renovated properties on June 8. For more information call 382-3200 or look on-line at www.captc.org.

June 10 – OAAHI Homeownership Fair; Mt. Zion Baptist Church Family Life Center, 419 N. Elgin. Registration and breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. and sessions begin at 9. Featured speaker will be Rev. Arnelious Crenshaw from Northeast Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.  The event will include workshops to address avoiding credit problems, down-payment assistance and other aspects of home ownership. There will also be a “Youth Fun Fest” with entertainment, educational and fun activities.  For more information call 584-0510.

June 10 – Homeownership highlighted during East Tulsa’s Route 66 Tradition Festival.  The celebration will feature multiple events and activities along  a six-mile stretch of Historic Route 66 from 145h East Avenue to Yale Avenue on 11th Street.  The South & East Alliance of Tulsa and the Tulsa Route 66 Business League have teamed with five east-Tulsa neighborhood associations to host this event.

A Neighborhood Association Tent will be erected in the parking lot on the southwest corner of 11th & Garnett where there will be listings of homes available for purchase in the area. There will also be home buyer education resources available there, provided by HOT Partners.

June 14 – “Successfully Selling HUD Homes” Seminar.  This session is designed for licensed real estate professionals.  For time and location, contact  the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors at 663-7500, or visit the GTAR website at www.tulsarealtors.com.

3rd Week of June – Homeownership Help Call-In on Channel 2.  Housing Partners of Tulsa (HPT), an entity of the Tulsa Housing Authority, will have representatives on a KJRH-2 broadcast to answer calls about various aspects of home ownership including financing, maintenance and more. HPT is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. It can be reached at 581-5768.

There will be hot dogs, pizza, a Jupiter Jump, face-painting and other activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. Throughout the rest of the week  there are other homeownership-related classes and activities, including first-time home buyers orientation and financial education classes from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on June 6 at the Community Action Project’s Exchange Center Office, 4606 S. Garnett Road. Classes will be in English and Spanish.  There will also be open houses at newly renovated properties on June 8. For more information call 382-3200.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 June 2006 )