Homebuyer fair set Sept. 24

With an especially robust real estate market in recent years, more first-time homebuyers than ever before are today realizing the American dream of home ownership in southern Delaware.

But many more remain on the sidelines due to what they perceive as the confusing and intimidating process of actually buying a home. And that's the main focus behind the Third Annual Sussex County Homebuyer Fair, slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Jack F. Owens Campus of Delaware Technical Community College inside the Carter Partnership Center. This event is co-sponsored by the Sussex County Association of Realtors, Sussex County government, First State Community Action Agency, the Delaware Housing Authority and NCALL Research.

Attendees to the fair will be provided a free copy of their credit report and be able to meet one-on-one with qualified housing counselors before browsing and asking questions of the dozens of vendors who are expected for the event.

"As Realtors, we understand firsthand how overwhelming the process of buying your first home can be. That's why we do everything we can to help potential buyers realize that it's not so intimidating if you just take it one step at a time," says Frank Serio, 2016 president of SCAOR. "This fair, our third annual now, is meant to arm prospective buyers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and move forward with the process."

Vendors at the event include housing counselors, lenders and representatives from other home-related industries, all showcasing their products and/or services and answering questions. The event is aimed at providing attendees with needed information on the home buying process in Sussex County, including financial planning tools, useful programs and products, how to locate and work with a qualified Realtor and effective ways of working with settlement attorneys, inspectors and more.

SCAOR has a long history of public advocacy in the world of real estate, including programs aimed at assisting first-time homebuyers, foreclosure prevention, and hosting educational seminars and classes for members of the general public. The 2016 Sussex County Homebuyer Fair is one way SCAOR promotes and advocates for homeownership in southern Delaware. "As Sussex County's lone real estate trade association, it's part of our mission to educate and inform the general public in all facets of the home buying and/or selling process. And we definitely take our commitment to that very seriously," says Serio. "We're very thankful to our partners here in the county, and to our colleagues in county government, for joining us in planning and implementing this event for the third consecutive year. Please come out and see us this Saturday if you're even considering purchasing a home within the next 12 months. We hope to see you there."

For more information or to preregister, go to www.sussexcountyde.gov/2016-homebuyer-fair or call 302-855-7779.