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On Tuesday, September 28, Boris Vatkin from HEART of San Mateo County and John Souza from Meriwest Credit Union presented about the HEART First Time Homebuyer Loan Program at the SAMCAR Marketing Meeting on Zoom. Together with Meriwest Mortgage, a subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union, HEART has created a unique loan package that is not offered by any other lender. HEART's goal is simple: to help buyers purchase a home with 5% downpayment and no PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). learn more at http://heartofsmc.org/

On Thursday, October 17, SAMCAR members gathered at Devils Canyon Brewing in San Carlos for the final 2019 quarterly Speaker Series for presentations on hot topics including ADUs, first time homebuyer programs, fire insurance, title insurance and cannabis, and rent control followed by conversations with each presenter.

In response to higher housing costs, HEART, the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County, and Meriwest Mortgage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union, will now allow new homebuyers in San Mateo County to purchase homes for up to $908,156. This represents a 14% increase from the previous maximum home price of $795,187. To accompany the increase in the maximum home price, the HEART loan program will offer up to $136,223 as a down payment second loan.

HEART of San Mateo County and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®—through a $50,000 grant from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Housing Affordability Fund—are expanding HEART's First Time Homebuyer Program to include closing costs assistance, offering up to $5,000 in closing costs assistance for first time homebuyers in San Mateo County.

C.A.R.'s Housing Affordability Fund's Homeowners Association Grant Program will provide qualified first-time California homebuyers up to six months of HOA dues, not to exceed $2,500. Due to limited availability, funds will be distributed on a first come/first served basis. Program start date: December 2016. For additional program details and requirements please visit: http://on.car.org/CARHAFHOAGRANT

Meet Julie S., an art teacher in San Mateo who was able to buy her first home with the help of HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust) and Meriwest Mortgage's first time homebuyer program.