In an effort to help potential homebuyers prepare for homeownership, the city of Aurora is hosting the 2018 Homeownership Expo from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Avenue.

The event is free and open to the public, but online registration is required by Oct. 31.

More than 25 exhibitors are available throughout the morning to provide information and answer questions about each step of the home buying process: understanding credit; homebuyer education; selecting the right lender, real estate professional, and insurance agent; understanding the closing process; and what to expect as a homeowner.

Participants can access their credit information and schedule homebuyer education classes at the expo.

In addition, the city will provide trolley tours highlighting Aurora amenities and upcoming projects.

“We want to provide concrete services to help potential home buyers become better-educated consumers,” said Dan Barreiro, chief community services officer with the city of Aurora. “Increased home ownership levels offer important benefits to communities, including socioeconomic and neighborhood stabilization.”

The Homeownership Expo will feature two workshop tracks presented by industry professionals: Understanding Credit and Down Payment Assistance Programs from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and Mortgage Loan and Home Selection Processes from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Presentations will be made in English and Spanish.

Gold Level sponsors for the 2018 Homeownership Expo are Fifth Third Bank, First National Bank, Huntington Bank and The Neighbor Project.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.aurora-il.org/1218/Future-Home-Owner.

SOURCE: city of Aurora news release