Howard County Housing Fair April 13th

  This Saturday April 13th is a busy day for community events.  I will be posting information on these events the next 3 days.  Today I wanted to post on the  Howard County Housing Department hosting a housing fair Saturday at the Long Reach High School from 10 am to 2 pm.

This is the information on the housing fair from Housing's information:

"Maryland's largest housing fair returns! The 7th Annual Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair is Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, in Columbia, Maryland. Admission is free and over 1,000 participants are expected to attend.

More than 50 real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, and housing specialists will be on hand to offer buying and renting guidance to individuals and families in one-on-one meetings and group education sessions. Guided bus tours will showcase various new home communities for rent and purchase in the county, for individuals and families of all income levels.

BB&T Bank, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of MD and DE, Inc. will offer free credit reports and one-on-one consumer counseling, in addition to more than 20 free educational sessions throughout the day.

For two lucky attendees, the Housing Fair will be where their homeownership dreams come true. The Fair's Housing Lottery will select two pre-qualified applicants for the opportunity to purchase one of two newly constructed Howard County homes at significantly reduced prices.

"The Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair is an ideal place for individuals and families who want to make their home in Howard County," said Tom Carbo, Howard County Housing Director. "There's no other event where you can get everything you need to know about finding a home in Howard County in one location. Combined with the Housing Lottery, it's always an exciting, educational and inspiring day."

The first lottery home is a soon-to-be constructed rancher in the Deep Run Park community in Elkridge, Md.; a community that features a playground, swimming pool and clubhouse. This three-bedroom, two-bath home will boast an inviting front porch and customization opportunities for the buyer. Constructed by Professional Building Systems the modular home offers unbeatable space and amenities for the sale price of $125,000.

The second lottery home is part of Ryan Homes' brand new Ellicott Crossing community in Ellicott City. The townhome, with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a one-car garage, will be completed in August. The 1,682 square foot home will feature nine-foot ceilings, brand new GE kitchen appliances, finished recreation and powder rooms, and ENERGY STAR certification, all for a sale price of  $221,154.

Interested candidates must pre-qualify for the Housing Lottery and submit all required paperwork by 5 P.M. on Wednesday, April 10.  Each home has different income qualification requirements so applications should read both applications carefully. The drawings at the Fair will begin at 1:30 p.m. To be eligible, applicants must be pre-qualified and be present at the time of the lottery drawing. The winners may also be eligible for settlement down payment loan funds through Housing County Housing.

The Housing Lottery applications are available for download at www.howardcountyhousing.com or by visiting Howard County Housing at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. The website also has a complete list of pre-qualification requirements, lottery rules and details about each home. No Housing Lottery applications will be accepted at the Fair.


Howard County Housing Executive Director Tom Carbo is available for interviews. Additionally, images of the annual Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair and the housing lottery homes are available. To request an interview or images, please contact Dan Wiznitzer at  or 410.989.2067
89.2067"