Na Hale O Maui Community Land Trust Home Buyer Seminar

by Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez

Maui's worldwide appeal and the demand for housing make it difficult for those who live and work here to buy their own home-or to find an affordable rental. In addition, Maui has developed affordable housing in the past only to see it move on to market prices after a period of time.

Na Hale O Maui is a community land trust formed by a group of Maui citizens to help address this concern. Our goal is affordable housing that remains affordable in perpetuity and that never goes to market rates, or to speculation.

To learn more about Na Hale O Maui you can attend an informative Home Buyer Seminar on Saturday, December 8, from 9:30 am - 10:30 am. Registration is from 9:00 am - 9:30 am. It will be held at the J. Walter Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani Street in Wailuku. Seating is limited, please RSVP by calling the trust office at 244-6110 or by sending an E-mail to: info@nahaleomaui.org by December 7.

The seminar will cover the steps toward reaching homeownership through the community land trust model. You will learn how the unique structure of CLT's make property less expensive to the homebuyer and in many cases easier to acquire.

The seminar will also provide important information about steps that a family can take now to make it easier for them to qualify for a home loan and achieve homeownership when they are ready.

Seminar attendees will learn why your credit score is important, how it's computed and how to improve it. This information alone could save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage and may make the difference in qualifying for a loan. Questions about budgets and making large purchases before getting a mortgage will be addressed.

CLT's have been in existence since the late 1960's. The community land trust model was developed by those who conceived of a non-profit organization that would hold land and make it available to individuals through long-term land leases. Holders of CLT leases have full possessory rights and can pass on their home to their heirs.

Today there are over 200 CLT's, operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Since Community Land Trusts acquire and hold title to the land the cost of the home becomes more affordable.

To be eligible for a community land trust home you will be required to take four steps, which will be outlined at the seminar. Attending the December 8 seminar is the first step. At the end of the hour, you will receive a certificate and be on your way to learning if the community land trust model is one that works for you.

We look forward to seeing you.

Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez is the president of Na Hale O Maui, which is governed by a volunteer board dedicated to the creation of housing for local people that remains affordable in perpetuity.