VHDA Homebuyer Education Class

BUYING A HOME
What is the VHDA Homebuyer Education Class?

Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) and Virginia Housing and Development Authority (VHDA) are in partnership to provide a free class that is designed to teach you the steps involved in purchasing a home. Topics include understanding the effect of your credit, the loan process, working with a realtor, home inspection, and budgeting. This class is beneficial to any home buyer but is a requirement to purchase an HRHA home. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 or visit http://www.vhda.com/ for details.

Does HRHA have a program to help first time buyers purchase a home?

The SPARC program provides below market rate loans (interest rate reductions) for first time homebuyers. Interest rates are 1/2% to 1% below VHDA's published First-time Homebuyer Program rates. Income limits apply. Call your lender for details.

Does HRHA provide down payment and closing cost assistance?

Due to funding, HRHA can only offer down payment assistance in limited situations. There is assistance for those that qualify (income limits apply) and are buying a home that HRHA is selling or a home that is located in the Pasture Point or Olde Hampton neighborhoods. You will have to obtain the financing (mortgage) from a lender. In most cases, in order to obtain a loan you will need stable income, good credit and not too many debts.

How much down payment assistance can I get?

Assistance is provided on an as-needed basis and depends on the house you are buying and your specific financial situation.

Where are HRHA homes built?

Our homes are built in various neighborhoods throughout the city of Hampton and can be viewed on our website at http://www.hrha.org/ .

Why do you use income limits?

These limits are determined each year by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that homeownership funding goes to those who need it most.

What are the income limits?

Visit www.hrha.org/homesforsale.htm for current income limits. Income is based on all household members over 18 years old.

REHAB A HOME
Is there a program that can help with repairs to my home? HRHA has a home rehabilitation program for Hampton city residents that is based on household income and the equity in your home. You must also own and occupy the home as your principal residence. The goal of this program is to correct city code related issues. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 for details.

Does HRHA offer a grant to fix my home? No. Our rehab program only makes loans to cover the cost of rehabilitation. Some loans, do not have payments and, in some cases, are forgiven over a period of time.

What other programs are offered through the Community Development Department? We have a Wheelchair Ramp, Exterior Improvement and Emergency Grant program. Income limits and program guidelines apply. Call 727-1111, ext. 312 for details.

Homeownership Education Program

Need Real Answers About Homeownership?

Here's Your Starting Line.

Are you thinking about buying a home, but not sure where to start - especially in challenging economic times? VHDA's free First Time Homebuyer Class can help.

In one day of training, you'll learn the entire homebuying process from start to finish, and how to stay on track as a responsible homeowner. The class is offered in English or Spanish, in person or online. And it's free, with no obligation.

Personal Finances and Credit Reports

Role of the Lender

Working with your Real Estate Agent

Home Inspections

Closing your Mortgage Loan

Homebuyer Options

• Schedule of Homeownership Classes
• Online Classes
• Clases en español
• Household Spending Plan
• Contact Us

Please Note:
Although online classes are available, some loan programs - such as SPARC (Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities) and NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) - require classroom training. Classroom training offers the added benefits of interactive discussion
with industry experts who can answer any questions and help you create a spending plan.

Be sure to contact the organization offering the loan program you are interested in to determine the specific homeownership education qualification requirements.

Ship's Cabin

We happened upon a good restaurant after the open house at East Beach. I had it in my mind that it would be a good time to finally try the Blue Crab, but it was closed, so as we drove up Ocean View Ave. toward our exit, we kept our eyes peeled and when we saw Ship's Cabin thought it was worth a try. It was! My friend said her NY Sirloin was really good. I ordered the Chesapeake Bay Burger - a very meaty burger topped with claw crabmeat. I ate less than half the burger. My attention was focused on the warm, crusty bread served with a plate of olive oil with a good sized mound of parmesan in the middle. I've never gotten into the idea of dipping bread into olive oil, but with the parmesan - oh my goodness! I truly made a meal off of it. We had to order a second plate of olive oil and parmesan. Carbolicious. But heart healthy. :-> And they have the most incredible homemade blue cheese dressing.

SEAFOOD ON THE BAY
GREAT FOOD MEETS GREAT ATMOSPHERE
The finest Gourmet Italian Cuisine along with the best and freshest seafood in the area. All our dishes are prepared to order and made from scratch. We offer something for everyone. We are a 9 time winner of "Best of Norfolk", and there's a reason why....come and see for yourself.
SHIP'S CABIN
4110 EAST OCEAN VIEW AVE., NORFOLK, VA 23518
757-362-0060 FAX: 757-362-0059

East Beach Holiday Home Tour

This morning, we discussed the East Beach Holiday Tour. East Beach is a planned community in the Ocean View area of Norfolk. Our company has two houses on the market there - one is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,200 square foot home on 28th Bay St. listed below $700k, the other a 6 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 5,900 square foot home on 25th Bay St. listed just above a million. Both houses will be open on both days. I will hold one of the houses open on Sunday, December 7th, from noon to 5 p.m.

2008 EAST BEACH HOLIDAY PORCH TOUR
DECEMBER 6TH & 7TH
The 3rd Annual Holiday Home Tour will take place on December 6th and 7th at East Beach, featuring beautifully decorated homes in the mid-Atlantic's most heralded New Urbanist waterfront community. Visitors will enjoy carriage rides, walks on the beach, entertainment, and holiday shopping at our gift gallery.

Interestingly, I picked up a copy of Chesapeake Bay today to see what creek the cover referred to, and found that the article referred to Little Creek, East Beach, and the entire Ocean View area. Here is an excerpt from the article.

Ocean View Renaissance
Little Creek and East Beach are at one end of the long stretch of shore that runs about six miles east to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The success of East Beach is mirrored by the renaissance of the entire stretch, known as Ocean View.

Anyone who grew up in Hampton Roads remembers Ocean View, or at least the stories their parents used to tell. The “Atlantic City of the South” had luxury hotels, beach cottages, movie theaters, drug stores with soda fountains and, most memorable of all, an amusement park. You could take the trolley to Ocean View Station from downtown Norfolk and spend the day riding the merry-go-round, the Ferris wheel, the “Skyrocket” roller coaster, bumper cars and dozens of other rides. You could bathe in the beautiful Chesapeake, dance at the hotels, listen to concerts or buy an ice cream cone from Dumar’s.
Old Ocean View flourished for half a century, then died as seedy neighborhoods and motels moved in after World War II. But about 15 years ago, the turnaround began. And now memories are being cherished and revived. In March, in the new Pretlow Branch of the Norfolk Public Library (another example of the Ocean View revival) the Ocean View Station Museum opened. The museum (757-531-0445; www.ovsm.org) is decorated with dozens of black-and-white photographs from the town’s heyday and includes, as its centerpiece, a restored roller coaster car.

When I was a little kid, the only thing left of the Ocean View this article talks about was the amusement park. One of my favorite old family pics is of me and my cousin as toddlers riding a merry-go-round at Ocean View while my mom stands off to one side, her arm and her handbag visible in the picture, my cousin looking gleeful on his horse. The park was demolished in 1979 and I think closed way before that. I have no real memories of it; I was so young when we went that the picture is the only way I know I was there. I still like Ocean View, as it is a locals beach just like Buckroe. Last December, I took a walk on the beach and ran into a very friendly little golden retriever and his temporary owner - a man wearing a blue work uniform, who said the puppy was a soon-to-be Christmas gift for his grandson. One afternoon in May, I drove over to Ocean View just b/c I felt like driving across the bridge - it's about 15 minutes from Hampton - and wanted to check out a taqueria I'd read about (we've since gotten some taquerias on the Peninsula). I checked out the new Pretlow library and enjoyed the museum stuff, which I took pics of but never posted. And last month, I went to the Chesapeake Bay Art Association's 46th Annual Outdoor Art Show in OV. The OV "revival" has been happening for awhile; there have been million dollar beach homes interspersed with the seedy motels the article talks about for awhile now. The community of East Beach is farther down towards Little Creek, set off from the street, more of a separate community.

View Larger Map
The East Beach Holiday Porch Tour is sponsored by the Hope House, which also sponsors the Stockley Gardens Art Festival, which I finally went to back in May.

East Beach and Hope House Foundation invite you to capture some holiday spirit during the East Beach Holiday Porch Tour on Dec. 6 and 7. The event is free and open to the public. Hours are Saturday noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The porches along the avenues of East Beach will be lit and decorated for the holidays. Everyone is invited to enjoy a walking tour or a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride through the neighborhood along with music, carolers and Santa. Plus, there are plenty of children’s activities in Santa’s workshop. The festivities start at 4487 Pleasant Avenue and wind through the neighborhood to the Bay Front Club, where you can get a head start on holiday shopping at the Holiday Gift Gallery. It will be filled with local artisans and specialty shops selling one-of-a-kind gifts and home décor items. The East Beach Holiday Porch Tour brings people from all over Hampton Roads to enjoy entertainment and southern hospitality. Neighbors will serve hot chocolate and refreshments from the porches and other refreshments will be available from local vendors. East Beach is situated on 100 acres along the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk. Surrounded by water, the neighborhood is fashioned after classic Southeastern seaboard coastal villages. The master plan for this $400 million development includes 700 residences, neighborhood restaurants, boutique shops, a Bay Front Club and offices. Public space, walking paths and bay front greens enhance the vistas and create open spaces for the beachfront community. Boating, fishing and water sports of all types are steps away from the neighborhood. East Beach is a unique initiative between the developers, East Beach Company LLC, the City of Norfolk and Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority.

427 Smiley Road