Berkshire Creative and Massachusetts Fair Housing Center Offer First Time Home Buyer Training for Artists.
Saturday, December 6 and Saturday, December 13
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Berkshire Bank, 66 West Street, Pittsfield, MA
Assets for Artists – a project of Berkshire Creative, MASS MoCA, MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and Pittsfield’s Office of Cultural Development, with funding from Berkshire Bank Foundation – is partnering with the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center to offer a two-part training seminar for artists interested in learning more about the home buying process. Participants will learn how to determine what they can afford and what will meet their artistic needs (live-work space, 2-4 unit properties with rental income, etc.). They will also hear from expert speakers on such topics as choosing and working with a real estate broker, making an offer on a house, comparing mortgage offers, applying for a mortgage, securing down payment assistance, obtaining legal representation for preparing and reviewing documents, selecting appropriate home insurance, utilizing a home inspector, preparing for life after the home purchase, and more.
The training will be tailored to the needs and challenges of artists in the Berkshires. Attendance at both sessions is required in order for the participant to receive “certification” from the state and become eligible for certain first-time home buyer mortgage and down payment assistance programs.
Artists who would like to participate in this two-part certified home buyer training should contact Blair Benjamin at MASS MoCA (413-664-4481 x8104 or blair@massmoca.org) to express interest or request more information. A limited number of slots will be available, offered first-come, first-serve. Pre-registration is required.
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