September 2017 - In This Issue:
Therie and Ed Stay in Silicon Valley

For most of their married life, Therie and Ed were content to be renters -- first in apartments in Illinois and Sunnyvale after they moved to California in 2005, and then for six years in a house in Santa Clara. After their landlord warned that his heirs would sell the property immediately if anything should happen to him, the couple decided it was time to take control of their future by becoming homeowners. 

After getting pre-approved for a mortgage from their credit union, Therie and Ed started to look for a home within their budget. That meant moving away from the community they had grown to love and looking at less expensive areas, even as far away as Minnesota, that were out of their comfort zone.  Read More
New grant program for first-time homebuyers
 
A new program to help first-time homebuyers with a $5,000 grant towards closing costs is now available from Housing Trust Silicon Valley. 
 
The Housing Affordability Fund was launched with $100,000 from the California Association of REALTORS® Housing Affordability Fund plus additional donations for operational costs contributed by the Santa Clara County REALTOR® Foundation and the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
 
"Local Realtors have partnered with the Housing Trust since our founding in 2000 and have worked with us to make home ownership a reality for thousands of local families," said Housing Trust CEO Kevin Zwick. 
 
Paying closing costs is the last step to purchase a home, but it is often difficult since the homebuyer may have tapped out all resources in order to make a down payment. This grant will help more families achieve their dream of owning their own home.
 
For eligibility information, visit the Housing Affordability Fund website.
 
The Housing Affordability Fund is our latest initiative to help low and moderate income families purchase their first home. Be on the lookout in the near future for an announcement for another new program that will offer equity sharing opportunities to moderate income first-time homebuyers!
Spotlight on Board Member John Barton

John Barton grew up in a family that walked the talk of community activism - literally since one of his first memories is joining his parents as a small child to walk precincts for Lyndon Johnson. He has continued that tradition throughout his life, including his about-to-end stint on the Housing Trust Board of Directors and serving as its Chair for two years.
 
John first became involved with the Housing Trust when he was on the Palo Alto City Council, his second elected office after serving eight years as a Trustee in the Palo Alto Unified School District. He was already a co-founder of the Community Working Group, a nonprofit that helps homeless and those at risk of homelessness, and he saw the missions of the two organizations as complementary. He is now President of the Board of Directors of Abode Services and is a frequent public speaker on affordable housing issues. Read More
Join us at On the House on October 16!
We'll be celebrating another year of working to create affordable housing opportunities in Silicon Valley at SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant in Downtown San José during On the House, our fall get together where we enjoy food, drinks, and good company. For more information, and to purchase your ticket go to  www.OnTheHouseHTSV.eventbrite.com.
Thank you to our early adopter sponsors of Investor Briefing 2018! Join them and get 5 free tickets to On the House by  becoming a sponsor today! 


Housing Trust Silicon Valley
95 S. Market St., Suite 610
San Jose, CA 95113