WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 17, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Twenty Twin Falls-area REALTORS® and lenders were honored Thursday for connecting homebuyers to affordable home loans through Idaho Housing and Finance Association. In the past year, REALTORS® and lenders in the Magic Valley have teamed up with Idaho Housing to help 685 new homebuyers purchase homes, representing a $56 million investment in the community.
“By reducing borrowing costs and offering down payment and closing cost assistance, Idaho Housing has helped 7,000 families in the Twin Falls area attain sustainable homeownership in the past 40 years,” said Idaho Housing President Gerald M. Hunter. “We’re proud that we’ve been able to invest more than $500 million in the area in that time.”
Sid Lezamiz (Gold Award) of Lezamiz Real Estate Co., Gary Shook (Silver Award) of Canyonside Irwin Realty and Joe Farfan (Bronze Award) of Century 21 Riverside Realty represented the most Twin Falls-area buyers who purchased homes using Idaho Housing’s Home Loan program. Honorable mentions were: Faye Emerson, Magic Valley Realty; Cindy Schmidt, Prudential Idaho Homes; Teresa Holmes, Direct Realty LLC; Lexi Roth, Westerra Real Estate Group; Terry Winkle, Prudential Idaho Homes; Bill Workman, Gem State Realty; and Kay Kendrick, Westerra Realty Group.
Debbie Owen (Gold Award) of Guild Mortgage Company, Daren Almond (Silver Award) and Pam Canoy (Bronze Award, both of Idaho Central Credit Union, were the lenders who represented the most Idaho Housing borrowers. Honorable mentions were: Lety Chairez, Idaho Central Credit Union; Kevin Dane, Bank of Idaho; Tracey Miller, First Federal Savings Bank; Ana Torres, Mortgage Solutions; Cari Kaster, First Federal Savings Bank; Angela Oliver, First Federal Savings Bank; and Scott Martin, Axia Home Loans.
Idaho Housing provides affordable mortgage financing to creditworthy Idahoans with low to moderate incomes. To date, the organization has invested more than $7.3 billion to help 96,000 families around the state. An important part of that investment is a robust homebuyer education program that has helped about 30,000 future Idaho homeowners. Learn more about Idaho Housing Home Loans at www.idahohousing.com.
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.
Katrina Thompson katrinat (at) ihfa (dot) org
Marketing and Communications Manager
208-331-4738
