Real estate professionals receive STAR awards, lending partners also honored
BOISE, ID – November 16, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) will honor 75 Ada County REALTORS® during a REALTOR® Appreciation Luncheon noon to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Barber Park Event Center in Boise. The REALTORS® being honored helped 410 new homebuyers utilize IHFA’s IdaMortgage Home Loan program in the last two years—representing a collective total of more than $53 million in loans.
“REALTORS® play a key role in partnering with IHFA to provide information to homebuyers about the IdaMortgage loan program,” said Susan Semba, IHFA’s vice president of Homeownership Lending. “Together we are helping Idaho homeowners start smart by encouraging them to take Finally Home! ® Homebuyer Education, and purchase a home using affordable loan products with great interest rates, including down payment assistance and additional tax credits of up to 20 percent when they file their taxes for the year.”
Since IHFA first began issuing home loans more than 35 years ago, the association has invested more than $5.6 billion in loans for more than 73,000 Idaho families. In Ada County alone, more than 18,490 families have received IdaMortgage loans through IHFA, an investment of over $1.5 billion.
The following REALTORS® will receive STAR (Saluting Top Area REALTORS®) Awards during the luncheon. These awards recognize REALTORS® who have helped their clients utilize IdaMortgage loan products. The awards presentation will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Gold Award
Janice Stieger of Group One will receive the Gold Award for representing 14 IdaMortgage homebuyers. A 21-year real estate veteran, Stieger finds IdaMortage loans are very attractive to first-time homebuyers because of the low down payment options available and low interest rates. She likes the fact that IHFA is a local company where clients can personally go and make their payments.
Silver Award
Sheila Smith of RE/MAX Capital City will receive the Silver Award for representing ten IdaMortgage homebuyers. Smith specializes in re-sales, first-time home buyers and short sales. She says making clients happy is her motivator. “I am glad I can help prevent foreclosures and share all options even beyond short sale with clients; people are appreciative of having information (about foreclosure prevention) available and working out a solution,” she said.
Bronze Award
Amy Miller of Keller Williams will receive the Bronze Award for representing ten IdaMortgage homebuyers. A REALTOR® since 1995, Miller says IdaMortgage has been very helpful to her and her clients. “We have people with lower incomes who are buying affordable homes, and that combination is perfect for IdaMortage,” Miller said.
Certificates of Appreciation
These REALTORS® will be recognized for representing at least six IdaMortgage home loan buyers: Tim Burroughs, Keller Williams Realty; Adin Catovic, Silvercreek Realty Group LLC; Gabe Cordova, Core Group Realty, LLC; Dianne Dimick, Homeland Realty; Natalie Filbert, Mountain Realty, LLC.; Erica Hill, Keller Williams Realty; Rich Smith, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group; Jennifer Horsley Stacey, John L. Scott; Steve Szlanic, RE/MAX Elite Properties, LLC; Bob Van Allen, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson; Sharon Walker, Keller Williams Realty; and Greg Wilson, Silvercreek Realty Group, LLC.
Lender recognition
In addition to the STAR Awards, the area’s top lending partner and loan originators will be recognized for having the highest IdaMortgage loan production this past year in Ada County. Guild Mortgage will be honored as top lending partner. Top loan originators include Lance Hendricks with Idaho Central Credit Union, Terry Heffner with Guild Mortgage, and Terry Anderson with Academy Mortgage.
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Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, improves lives and strengthens Idaho communities by expanding housing opportunities, building self sufficiency, and fostering economic development.
Contact:
Maria Ortega mariao (at) ihfa (dot) org
Public and Media Relations Officer
208-331-4858
Katrina Thompson katrinat (at) ihfa (dot) org
Marketing and Communications Manager
208-331-4738
