It's simple. When people invest in their neighborhood, they care what happens to it. Afterall, it's the biggest investment that they will probably
make during their lifetime.

According to the U.S. Census bureau homeownership for all races have been
steadily rising. This is great news for the African American community, but
more work needs to be done to narrow the gap in homeownership between
segments of the population. The statistics for homeownership in the year
2005 were as follows:

Non hispanic white: 75%

Asian and Native American: 59.4%

Latino: 49.7%

African American: 48.8%

Studies show that, homeownership still eludes low income families. If you
are thinking of owning a home, know that the dream is possible. The Housing
and Urban development provides the following guides for consumers of all
income ranges, when considering homeownership.

1.Figure out how much you can afford. This is extremely important as it sets
the tone for your home search. What neighborhoods should you consider? What
type of home should you buy: condo, townhome, single-family-home (SFH)?

2. Shop for a loan. Find a service that offers multiple loan quotes at no
charge. Do this first BEFORE you seriously start looking for a home. Most
sellers require pre-qualification before they allow you to make an
offer. In addition, it ensures that you can qualify for the right loan
amount.

3. Shop for a home. Based on how much you can afford and how much a
mortgage lender has qualified you for, you can now find a home that meets
your needs.

4. Make an offer. If you are working with a real estate agent, they can
make an offer to the home seller.

5. Go to closing. A settlement attorney will draw up the final paperwork to
ensure that the title for the home is free and clear of any liens.

Lastly, congratulate yourself. Keep the dream alive!