MEDIA ADVISORY
3435 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111; Fax: 816-759-6828

Release No. 2001-03-02
March 8, 2001 

Partners offer Assistance to Homebuyers

[Kansas City, Mo.] -- Missouri's first-time homebuyers have an opportunity to obtain information about buying a home with one stop on the World Wide Web.

The Missouri Housing Partners are now offering homebuyers an opportunity to tap into the resources of a number of agencies providing low-interest loans for homebuyers by filling out an online request for information.  

Begun as an initiative of the Missouri Rural Opportunities Council, Missouri Housing Partners provides information regarding home loans, downpayment assistance, mortgage refinancing, home rehabilitation, homebuyer education and other related topics. Prospective homebuyers complete a one-page form and it is automatically e-mailed to the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), the state housing finance agency. MHDC then forwards the material to the appropriate participating agencies.

Participating agencies include: MHDC, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Fannie Mae, Veterans Affairs (VA); University Outreach and Extension; and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

These agencies then contact the prospective homebuyer directly with information on programs, names of lenders and other resources that are available.

"The program is targeted to assist first-time homebuyers, people with disabilities, veterans, senior citizens, single parents, displaced homemakers and low to moderate-income homebuyers," said David Bryan, MHDC Public Information Officer. "We hope this provides an easier means for people to access programs that would put them at an advantage when purchasing a home."

The online request form is located at http://www.mhdc.com/mhp/onlinemhpform.htm.  It can also be accessed through the USDA's Rural Development in Missouri web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mo/partners.htm.  Traditional paper forms are available from any of the USDA Rural Development offices in Missouri or any University Outreach and Extension center.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: Please localize this information to include your University Extension and USDA Rural Development offices in your area.