County Residents Invited to Attend 12th Annual Housing Fair and Financial Fitness Day in Gaithersburg

The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), in partnership with the Montgomery County Housing Fair Committee, will host the 12th Annual Montgomery County Housing Fair and Financial Fitness Day on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg.  County residents with questions about housing resources and programs are invited and encouraged to attend.

This year’s fair will offer loan modifications on site, as well as free foreclosure prevention counseling, free credit reports and analysis, guidance for people looking for affordable rental properties, information on avoiding housing scams and information on the legal implications of housing problems, including the tax consequences of short sales.  In addition, homeowners interested in refinancing and homeowners who have been foreclosed upon can find out if they meet the criteria for financial assistance under a recent settlement between the Maryland Office of the Attorney General; the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation; the federal government; and five leading bank mortgage servicers.

Sponsors and exhibitors - local housing providers, realtors, property managers, businesses, banks, credit unions, government agencies, community organizations and nonprofits – still have time to register.  Sponsors will receive special recognition and publicity benefits as well as prime booth space at the fair for displaying their promotional materials.  Exhibitors are encouraged to register before April 6 to receive a reduced rate.  Last year more than 90 sponsors and exhibitors participated and more than 1,000 people attended.

"We are receiving numerous calls about mortgage-related financial assistance made available by the federal government,” said Myriam Torrico, DHCA administrator of Community Programs.  “Fairgoers will have the opportunity to receive information about federal, state and local housing initiatives and learn whether they qualify.  Another important component of the fair is financial literacy.  Information about free financial education classes and free accounts will be distributed at the fair by Bank On Gaithersburg.”  A program run by the City of Gaithersburg in conjunction with area banks, Bank On Gaithersburg offers free bank accounts to eligible customers.

In addition to DHCA, the Housing Fair Planning Committee includes the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville and Takoma Park; Asian American Homeownership Counseling; Housing and Community Initiatives, Inc.; Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.; Housing Opportunities Commission; Latino Economic Development Corporation; Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; Montgomery County Office of Human Rights; and the office of U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen.

To become a sponsor or exhibitor, contact Myriam Torrico at 240-777-3627 or email myriam.torrico@montgomerycountymd.gov.

For more information about the fair, call 240-777-3602 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhca.