real estate briefs
donation
GLVAR awards $20,000 grant to Housing Help for Nevada
As part of its ongoing commitment to helping local homeowners, the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors has donated $20,000 to Housing Help for Nevada. GLVAR President Rick Shelton said the grant was made possible by funding by the NAR. Led by NAR CEO Rob Wigton and 2010 President Linda Rheinberger, the NAR was instrumental in selecting and allocating the grant to Housing Help for Nevada from its Foreclosure Prevention and Response Program.
Housing Help for Nevada is a nonprofit agency founded to respond to Clark County's housing crisis. Its goal is to provide safe, professional and free counseling to local homeowners facing foreclosure and other challenges, ensuring the best possible resolution.
Alisa Juni, founder and executive director of Housing Help for Nevada, will address GLVAR members at their quarterly membership luncheon on March 26. She'll speak about loan modification programs and the criteria and eligibility for those programs. The event is not open to the public.
For more information on Housing Help for Nevada, visit housinghelpfornevada.org.
GLVAR was founded in 1947 and provides its nearly 12,500 local members with education, training and political representation. For more information, visit lasvegasrealtor.com.
Education
Ombudsman offers classes for homeowners association
The ombudsman state office for homeowners associations is offering programs to help homeowners understand their rights and responsibilities under Nevada law.
The Ombudsman for Common-Interest Communities and Condominium Hotels invites association residents, owners and directors to join them at one of their seminars, which will outline the core duties of all Nevada HOA directors. The current offering, Basics for Board Members, explains the role of a fiduciary, how to run a meeting and an election, the importance of recordkeeping and how to use the services of the ombudsman.
Upcoming dates include:
March 20, 2 p.m., West Sahara Library, 9600 Sahara Ave.
April 19, 5:30 p.m., Centennial Hills Library, 6711 Buffalo Drive
April 20, 9:30 a.m., Bradley Building, 2501 Sahara Ave.
May 21, 11 a.m., Bradley Building, 2501 Sahara Ave.
June 16, 11 a.m., Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 Highway 160
The speakers are Ombudsman Lindsay Waite and Nicholas Haley, Education and Information Officer. The program includes a 30-page handout and numerous opportunities to ask questions.
Seating is limited and attendees are encouraged to register in advance. Call Haley at 486-4480 or 1-877-829-9907 or e-mail at nhaley@red.state.nv.us.
Assistance
Legal aid center announces representation for foreclosure
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada announced a new pilot program to provide legal representation to homeowners who are going through foreclosure mediation. Anyone attending the Legal Aid Center/William S. Boyd School of Law's foreclosure mediation class will be screened for this service, which will continue through the end of April.
"Our financial eligibility guidelines for assistance with foreclosure mediation are broader than for our other pro bono programs," said Barbara Buckley, executive director of Legal Aid Center.
"This pilot program is designed to meet the needs of low-to-moderate income residents who can demonstrate a level of hardship."
The foreclosure mediation classes are free and are held every Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. at the law school. Qualifying homeowners who are going through foreclosure and who are selected by Legal Aid Center will then be matched with pro bono attorneys to represent them. Homeowners who wish to attend the free classes can sign up by calling 386-1070, ext. 155.
"So many families find themselves in dire financial circumstances and they often have no idea where to turn for help," Buckley said. "We offer a legal lifeline and the hope of retaining their home at an affordable rate."
Legal aid center also offers a training program for lawyers who are interested in volunteering their time but may not necessarily specialize in foreclosure law.
For more information, visit lacsn.org.
