*****MEDIA ADVISORY*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2018

CONTACT:
Tim Trumble – Media Coordinator; Cell: 617-947-2632; ttrumble@naca.com
Bruce Marks – NACA CEO; Cell: 617-835-4477; bmarks@naca.com

WHAT: MEDIA OPPORTUNITY – KICKOFF OF LARGEST HOMEOWNERSHIP EVENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY
WHERE: AmericasMart, Bldg 2, 4th Floor, 230 Ted Turner Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
WHEN: Thursday, September 13th, 2018, 11:00 am
WHO: More than 1,000 homebuyers, many NACA homeowners, Atlanta City Council Members and other community leaders, NACA CEO Bruce Marks, Bank of America representative and others.

KICKOFF OF LARGEST HOMEOWNERSHIP EVENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY

(ATLANTA, GA – September 12, 2018) – Thursday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m. NACA will showcase the largest homeownership event in American history to kick off its “Achieve the Dream” one-stop mortgage event at AmericasMart in Atlanta. Ten years after the beginning of the mortgage crisis, NACA is the one bright light in mortgage lending for low-to-moderate income and minority borrowers. The program directly confronts the affordable housing crisis with a genuinely affordable loan that requires no down payment, no closing costs, no PMI and no need for perfect credit.

Elected officials including Atlanta City Council members Michael Bond and Matt Westmoreland along with other community leaders and more than 1,000  homebuyers will be in attendance at the Achieve the Dream kickoff event to highlight the NACA program’s tangible solutions to the local housing crisis

“The NACA Mortgage, without the need for a down payment or closing costs, eliminates the significant savings requirement that locks out many homebuyers in today’s market” stated Bruce Marks, NACA’s CEO and founder.

The event runs Thursday, September 13th through Monday, September 17th from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The Achieve the Dream event is open to all prospective homebuyers, and NACA services are free of charge.

During the mortgage crisis, NACA’s “Save the Dream” events attracted tens of thousands of homeowners where NACA was able to modify many unaffordable mortgages. Now NACA’s Achieve the Dream event in Atlanta will also host more than 20,000 primarily low and moderate-income people who are homebuyers participating in NACA’s purchase program. www.naca.com. Event flyer. #AchieveTheDreamNACA

*****PRESS RELEASE*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release – August 9, 2018

CONTACT:

Tim Trumble – National Media Coordinator: (617) 947-2632 – Ttrumble@naca.com
Bruce Marks – NACA CEO: 617-835-4477 – BMarks@naca.com

NACA BRINGS ARIZONA RESIDENTS UNPRECEDENTED HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH
NO MONEY DOWN AND NO CLOSING COSTS.

(PHOENIX, AZ – August 9, 2018) – This morning, Thursday, August 9th at 11:00 a.m. NACA will showcase its “Achieve the Dream” one-stop mortgage event at the Phoenix Convention Center. NACA provides unprecedented homeownership opportunities for hundreds of low and moderate-income homebuyers through its “Best in America” mortgage: no down payment, no closing costs, no fees at a below market fixed rate. Elected officials, community leaders and hundreds of homebuyers will be in attendance.

The Achieve the Dream event, which brings tangible solutions to the local housing crisis, will run daily, Thursday, August 9th through Sunday, August 12th from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The Achieve the Dream event is open to all prospective homebuyers, and NACA services are free of charge.

“The NACA Mortgage without the need for a down payment or closing costs eliminates the significant savings requirement that locks out many homebuyers in today’s market” stated Bruce Marks, NACA’s CEO and founder. “NACA’s below market fixed rate along with the ability to buy it down with government assistance provides a monthly payment that makes it possible to purchase homes in Phoenix despite the limited supply.”

During the mortgage crisis, NACA’s “Save the Dream” events attracted tens of thousands of homeowners where NACA was able to modify many unaffordable mortgages, often the same day. Now NACA’s “Achieve the Dream” events will also host thousands of low and moderate-income people whom are homebuyers participating in NACA’s purchase program.

Homebuyers can complete the NACA four step home buying process and be pre-approved for NACA’s extraordinary mortgage in one day. In addition, NACA will continue to assist homeowners modify unaffordable mortgages.

Bank of America, a major partner in NACA’s efforts, will have a representative on hand to discuss their $10 Billion commitment to the NACA Mortgage. Current NACA homeowners from Phoenix who will also be in attendance to share their testimonies of achieving homeownership through the NACA program. Local elected officials are also scheduled to speak.

About NACA (www.naca.com):
The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to economic justice through home ownership and community action. Founded by economic advocate Bruce Marks more than thirty years ago, NACA is the largest HUD certified counseling agency with more than two million members nationwide. Through programs such as the Best in America Mortgage and HomeSave, NACA has helped thousands of consumers modify an unaffordable existing home loan or secure a mortgage to purchase a new home. With 50 offices nationwide, NACA pledges a character-based, no fee, no down payment and no closing fee home loan. NACA’s proven process allows low to modest income consumers to realize the American dream of homeownership. Bank of America and CitiMortgage have committed $13 billion to NACA pre-approved mortgage loans. www.naca.com. Event flyer. #AchieveTheDreamNACA

*****MEDIA ADVISORY*****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Advisory – July 7, 2018

CONTACT:

Tim Trumble – Media Coordinator; Cell: 617-947-2632; ttrumble@naca.com
Paola Rodelas – UNITE HERE Local 5, Communications & Community Organizer; (808) 941-2141 office, (808) 333-4782 mobile; prodelas@5.unitehere.org

GOVERNOR DAVID IGE TO LEAD ROUND TABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP DISCUSSION SUNDAY AT NACA ACHIEVE THE DREAM EVENT

GOVERNOR AND HAWAII HOMEBUYERS TO ADDRESS HAWAII HOUSING CRISIS

(HONOLULU, HI – July 7, 2018) Hawaii Governor David Ige will participate in an open-to-the-public round table discussion of homeownership issues in Hawaii this Sunday morning at 11:00 am as part of NACA’s Achieve the Dream homeownership event at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Since opening Friday morning, NACA has already helped hundreds start the path to affordable homeownership through NACA’s Best Mortgage in America mortgage program. Governor Ige will attend the NACA event in support of the combined efforts of NACA and Unite Here Local 5 to address the affordable housing crisis facing the people of Hawaii. The governor will lead a group of 15 Hawaii homebuyers in an open discussion of the homeownership issues facing working people.

“Governor Ige has shown great interest in bringing the NACA program to Hawaii”, according to NACA Founder and CEO Bruce Marks. “This discussion at the Achieve the Dream event demonstrates his understanding and concern regarding affordable homeownership, which is a core element of NACA’s mission and a key point in Local 5’s One Job Should Be Enough campaign.”

The governor is expected to share the story of his own journey to homeownership and engage in a frank and open discussion of the difficulties so many working people in Hawaii have experienced buying a home. High rents have caused excessively long commutes to work and hinder saving for homeownership.

“The NACA program will bring affordable homeownership to many of Hawaii’s working people with no down payment, no closing costs, no PMI and no need for perfect credit”, Marks continued. “With NACA, if you can afford to rent, you can often afford to own.”

NACA’s Achieve the Dream event is free and open to the public and continues daily through Tuesday at the Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Blvd. in Honolulu. Doors are open 6:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. More information and registration are available at www.naca.com. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Media Links:
NACA Video
Khon2 – Non-profit organization assists workers to become home owners

Hawaii News Now National non-profit offers low-cost home mortgages

Star Advertiser – Union Hopes Nonprofit and trust fund will help its members buy homes

About NACA (www.naca.com):
The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to economic justice through home ownership and community action. Founded by economic advocate Bruce Marks over thirty years ago, NACA is the largest HUD certified counseling agency with more than two million members nationwide. Through programs such as the Best in America Mortgage and HomeSave, NACA has helped thousands of consumers modify an unaffordable existing home loan or secure a mortgage to purchase a new home. With 50 offices nationwide, NACA has a proven track record of providing affordable homeownership to low and moderate-income consumers.  Bank of America and CitiMortgage have committed $13 billion to the NACA program. www.naca.com. #AchieveTheDreamNACA

ABOUT UNITE HERE LOCAL 5
Local 5 represents approximately 11,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.unitehere5.org.

Free five-day event offers low-cost mortgages in Honolulu

By Andrew Gomes – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

July 6, 2018

A Boston-based nonprofit backed by two national lenders is offering no-fee home mortgages with below-market interest rates for Hawaii residents at a free five-day event that starts today in Honolulu.

The “Achieve the Dream” event, which runs 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, is being held by NACA, a homeownership counseling and advocacy organization.

NACA, also known as the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, began promoting its mortgages at similar events in other major cities earlier this year, and plans to establish an office in Honolulu to continue offering services after the special event.

The organization, which helps prepare people for homeownership, is preapproving borrowers for mortgages that require no down payment and offer fixed interest rates below market level regardless of an individual’s credit score.

“If you can afford your rent, then you can afford to buy,” said NACA spokesman Tim Trumble.

Interest rates under the NACA mortgages are 4 percent for a 30-year loan, which is about 0.125 percentage points below the best rate from local lenders and 0.5 percentage points below the national average in a Freddie Mac survey. NACA loans also are free of loan origination fees, discount point fees and closing costs that typically include an appraisal fee, title report fee and other things. Private mortgage insurance also is not required.

Trumble said people who do have savings for a down payment can use that money to buy down the interest rate as far as to virtually zero.

There are some traditional costs that a NACA borrower is required to pay, such as the cost for a home inspection and homeowner’s insurance.

“NACA’s homeownership program may sound too good, but it is the reality for many thousands of NACA homeowners,” Bruce Marks, the organization’s founder and CEO, said in a statement.

NACA said it has $13 billion committed from Bank of America and CitiMortgage for its mortgage program and is committing $100 million initially for Hawaii borrowers.

The NACA mortgage program is focused on people with low to moderate incomes but isn’t limited to only this group. Some restrictions do apply, such as a borrower cannot own another property, and a borrower must occupy the home for as long as they have the mortgage.

The organization is an outgrowth of a hotel workers union in Boston and was established 30 years ago with a focus to help union members afford homes. During the national mortgage market meltdown that exploded about a decade ago and left scores of homeowners with subprime loans they couldn’t afford, NACA became heavily involved in loan modification work and is a counseling agency approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Now NACA is making new loans with the help of Bank of America and CitiMortgage.

NACA held a special workshop last month for members of the Unite Here Local 5 union, which represents many Hawaii hotel workers. The broader public event that starts today is part of a series held in other cities that has drawn more than 5,000 participants, including one in Miami in March where about 10,000 people attended, the organization said.

*****MEDIA ADVISORY*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release – April 23, 2018

CONTACT:
Tim Trumble, Media Coordinator, Cell: 617-947-2632; ttrumble@naca.com
Bruce Marks, NACA CEO, Cell: 617-835-4477; bmarks@naca.com

NACA’S CEO CALLS ON WELLS FARGO TO REINVENT ITSELF INTO A CONSUMER-FOCUSED INSTITUTION

(Boston, MA – April 23, 2018) NACA, the nation’s largest non-profit HUD certified housing and community advocacy organization, believes the $1 billion fine levied against Wells Fargo is a positive step in correcting the bank’s predatory practices. This significant penalty, along with the current restrictions on their growth, sends an important message to Wells Fargo’s executives and board members that fundamental change needs to occur.

Nevertheless, virtually none of the funds from the $1 billion penalty from the OCC and CFPB will be going to Wells Fargo’s consumers. The current government regulators are following the same practice as the previous administration of using the victims as a source of government funding.  Since these are not victimless crimes, the current administration needs to set a new path of utilizing penalties to benefit current and future customers.

“This is a start”, said Bruce Marks, NACA’s CEO. “Wells Fargo needs to reinvent itself from an institution that has followed in the footsteps of its predatory predecessor Norwest, to a customer-focused financial institution. To get out from the regulators’ appropriate limitations and scrutiny, it needs to not only stop its abusive practices but set the industry standard in providing consumer-focused banking.  This requires Wells Fargo to utilize some of its massive profits to provide the lowest cost financial services and to do affordable portfolio lending. Wells Fargo needs to remake its reputation and use the current government clampdown as such an opportunity. A true reflection of both a person and an organization is when one can turn a negative into a positive.  Now is Wells Fargo’s opportunity.”

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About NACA (www.naca.com): NACA is the largest and most effective organization in modifying mortgages and provides the best mortgage in the country. NACA has more than two million members and 47 offices nationwide. NACA CEO Bruce Marks was named Bostonian of the Year for 2007 because of his work in getting the major lenders and servicers to modify home loans for borrowers. See Bostonian of the Year. Mr. Marks has also testified before Congress on numerous occasions including September 12, 2000, being one of the only people to sound the alarm on the pending mortgage crisis.