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November 2008
4
Housing Consultant Wants to Change East Spencer Renters into Homeowners
By Sarah Nagem
Salisbury Post
EAST SPENCER — Andrea Britton-Brown wants to help people buy houses here.
But as the town's housing consultant, she told the Board of Aldermen on Monday she needs some money from the town to get started.
Two local companies — Palmore Construction and Twin Oak Development — have agreed to help homeowners in East Spencer, Britton-Brown said.
Clients who work with the East Spencer Housing Development Corp., a non-profit agency, will get financial assistance from Palmore or Twin Oak, she said.
To participate in a special state mortgage program, potential homeowners must contribute $1,000. The companies will pay that money for clients working with the town's housing corporations, Britton-Brown said.
"There is such a need in East Spencer for affordable housing," said Dick Palmore, who owns Palmore Construction in Salisbury.
He said he will contribute the $1,000 for as many houses as people need.
Cherrathee Hager, owner of Twin Oak Development, said she started buying houses in East Spencer two or three years ago. Her company has rehabilitated four houses in the town in the last two years, she said.
"This area has changed a lot," Hager said. "Crime has gone down. It's going back into a community again."
Up to 75 percent of East Spencer residents are renters, Britton-Brown said. She wants that number to go down.
"Our goal is to make renters into homeowners," Palmore said.
Hager said the key is to make the community more attractive. East Spencer will probably never be a thriving commercial hub, she said.
"However, it can be a good community for people to have affordable housing here in a great neighborhood," Hager said.
The East Spencer Housing Development Corp. helps potential homebuyers and homeowners at risk of facing foreclosure.
Britton-Brown said the program will hopefully function like the Salisbury Community Development Corp.
Her program in East Spencer already has nine active participants, she said.
The mortgage plan that requires a $1,000 contribution can help keep mortgage payments low, Britton-Brown said.
The plan allows buyers to get a deferred second mortgage for $20,000, which cuts that much money from the first mortgage.
Participants must participate in a six-month class for that program, Britton-Brown said.
To join the program, residents must meet certain income requirements.
For more information about buying a home in East Spencer or stopping foreclosure, contact Britton-Brown at 704-232-2248.
Also during the board meeting Monday, Alderman John Rustin encouraged the fire department to make a recommendation about who should be named fire chief.
Jeff Russell Sr. is currently serving as interim chief.
Town officials fired the former chief, Skipper Davis, last year. The town had another interim chief before Russell took over as the temporary chief.
"Things can go sour when you don't have a permanent leader," Rustin said.
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