Rural Ulster Preservation Company
RUPCO


NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center

Foreclosure Prevention Services

Home Repair Grants

Homeownership Orientation Classes

Homebuyer Assistance Programs

Financial Management Education

HUD Certified Housing Agency

Click here for Income Guideline Chart

RUPCO’s NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center offers a comprehensive range of services to help families achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership through pre- and post-purchase programs. These programs include: education and counseling, match savings programs, and grants for owner occupied rehabilitation, first time homebuyers and accessibility modifications.

Our NeighborWorks HomeOwnership offers our homebuyer education program in both English and Spanish.


 

Our National Partner
NeighborWorks® America

Our Local Partners
Citizens Bank Foundation
Ulster Savings Bank
M&T Bank Charitable Foundation
HSBC Bank USA
Bank of America Charitable Foundation


During national NeighborWorks week, RUPCO celebrated the 5th anniversary of its HomeOwnership Center. We had a wonderful party and celebrated with clients, partners and funders. Click here for video


NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center
Contact Information: 845.331.9860
Kathy Germain Director of Housing Services Ext. 233 kgermain@rupco.org
Sandy Altomare HomeOwnership/Rehab Manager Ext. 303 saltomare@rupco.org
Steve Knox

Rehabilitation Specialist

Ext. 227 sknox@rupco.org
Sally Dolan

Program Administrator

Ext. 220 sdolan@rupco.org
Frank Robusto

HomeOwnership Program Manager

Ext. 320 frobusto@rupco.org
Francisca Castellanos

Housing Counselor

Ext. 226 fcastellanos@rupco.org


Homeownership Orientation Classes

The first step to entering RUPCO's First Time Homebuyer Program is attending an orientation. Typically, Orientations are held on days noted below from 6:00-7:00 pm at our Community Room at the Kirkland (2 Main St., Kingston). At the Orientation, you will learn what you need to purchase a house and the full array of match savings and grant programs RUPCO offers.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Sally Dolan at (845) 331-9860 ext 220 or e-mail sdolan@rupco.org. Reservations are required.

Upcoming class schedule:
Mon 1/9
Wed 1/25
Mon 2/6
Wed 2/22
Mon 3/5
Wed 3/21
Wed 4/4
Mon 4/16
Mon 5/14
Wed 5/30
Mon 6/11
Wed 6/27

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Homebuyer Assistance Programs

The first time homebuyer program supports Ulster County residents in achieving the dream of homeownership. Through our comprehensive education and counseling program individuals will learn all the aspects of home buying such as finding a home, financing a home, legal aspects of buying a home, home inspections, home maintenance and energy conservation just to name a few. We offer match savings programs through the First Home Club, referrals to lenders for low fixed rate mortgage loans, and grants for down payment, closing cost or post closing rehabilitation for income eligible buyers.

First Home Club
This First Home Club is a homebuyer education program specifically designed for income-eligible first-time buyers. Every $1 you save towards the purchase of your first home will be matched with $4 from the Federal Home Loan Bank, up to $7500. There are nine participating banks in Ulster County. Assistance is also given to help to determine the buyer's monthly savings goal, and the time frame in which to achieve it. Homebuyer Education is required as part of the program. Education covers all different aspects of home buying, from start to finish.

Fast Track Program
The Fast Track Program is designed for the homebuyer who has good credit, sufficient savings and has been pre-approved by a mortgage lender. The two day, two hour, evening program brings together the professionals involved in the transaction of purchasing a home.

Section 8 to HomeOwnership
Section 8 to Homeownership provides a wonderful opportunity for families receiving Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rental assistance to create roots in the community, create pride, and have a safe place for their children. The following eligibility requirements must be met to apply: you must be a current Housing Choice Voucher participant and have completed an initial lease term of one year; family household income must be at least equal to 2000 hours of work at federal minimum wage ($10,300); head of the household or spouse must be employed full time and have been continuously so employed for a period of at least two consecutive years; families must be in full compliance with their lease and Housing Choice Voucher requirements; must be eligible for a first mortgage loan, the family must enroll in RUPCO’s homebuyer education program, attend homeownership pre-purchase counseling and receive a Certificate of Completion, which would deem the family mortgage ready. Household participation in Family Self-Sufficiency Program recommended.

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Foreclosure Prevention Services

If you're having difficulty keeping up with your mortgage payments, help is available. You are not alone. Over this past year hundreds of homeowners have contacted us to assist them.

RUPCO is happy to endorse the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) WaysHome, a free, interactive multi-media tool to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure. You can quickly learn some foreclosure basics with this web-based, interactive video. You'll be empowered to make informed decisions and motivated to take action. As part of Fannie Mae's "Know Your Options" initiative to help struggling homeowners, the WaysHome video uses innovative technology to allow you to put yourself in real-life situations, make informed choices and immediately see the outcomes of those actions. WaysHome is available at www.KnowYourOptions.com.

WaysHome was developed by Fannie Mae to educate distressed homeowners on the short- and long-term impacts of their decisions. Through video reenactment, WaysHome allows you to experience scenarios that address a range of options for avoiding foreclosure. We suggest you take a look, but also consider contacting RUPCO for in person assistance.

The federal government is also ready to help on a special website, www.makinghomeaffordable.com. Here too, you will find valuable information for facing foreclosure, no matter what your situation.

While these sites are both great, there is a lot of information to digest. So please don't try to do it all on your own. Attend our free Foreclosure Information Sessions. For more info and directions (845) 331-9860 or sdolan@rupco.org.

More housing help is available from agencies on our links page.

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Financial Management Education
Are you interested in:
  • learning how to read and understand your credit report?
  • managing your credit?
  • rebuilding your credit?
  • disputing credit report errors?
  • establishing and increasing savings?
  • developing and maintaining a spending plan?
  • long-term financial success?
  • a personal credit assessment?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be interested in attending
RUPCO’s Financial Management Education.

Contact Sally Dolan at (845) 331-9860 ext 220 or e-mail sdolan@rupco.org for more information.

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HUD Certified Housing Agency

RUPCO is a HUD Certified Counseling Agency.

RUPCO provides the following assistance for residents of Ulster County:

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Counseling
Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
Homebuyer Education Programs
Loss Mitigation
Money Debt Management
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling
Postpurchase Counseling
Predatory Lending
Renters Assistance
Services for Homeless

For assistance contact RUPCO’s NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center at 845.331.9860.

English/Spanish Available.

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Home Repair Grants

RUPCO’s NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center rehabilitation assistance program provides income eligible residents of Ulster County with grant funding and low interest loans to make necessary repairs and/or handicap accessibility modifications.

Owner Occupied Rehab Assistance

RUPCO provides grants to income eligible homeowners who occupy their residence so they can make home improvements and necessary repairs. These might include items such as the correction of health or safety hazards, creation of handicapped accessibility, and energy conservation measures. Owners must occupy their residence, but the property can include up to 4 units of housing.

Information Sessions Scheduled

Now accepting applications for the Single Family Home Repair Program wait list. Call 845-331-9860 for details. Current program provides repair funding to eligible homeowners in Ulster County. This funding is provided by the Ulster County Community Development Block Grant Program. General program information and applications will be available at info sessions. Income limits, property requirements and other program restrictions apply.

Accessibility Modifications through Access to HOME Program

The Rural Ulster Preservation Company and Resource Center for Accessible Living are collaborating to provide a disability modification program for residents of Ulster County. Grant funding will be focused on modifications that will prevent a person from entering an institution and enable those in institutions to return to home. These modifications may include, but not necessarily be limited to:

  • Installation of ramps, lifts and other measures to permit access;
  • Modifications of kitchens and bathrooms such as grab bars, roll-in showers, wheelchair turn around, hand held showers;
  • Interior accessibility modifications, lever hardware on doors, home automation systems, entrance way enlargements, wheelchair turn-arounds, installation of devices for persons with hearing or visual impairments.

Home Repair Application

Download now.

 

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