West Virginia Housing Development Fund

Congratulations to Chad Leport on his recent promotion to Chief Financial Officer! Chad joined the Fund back in 2004 as Internal Auditor and has served in other positions within our Accounting & Finance department over the years. In his new role, Chad will oversee all of the Fund's financial activities. In addition to his experience at the Fund, Chad has an MBA and is a Certified Public Accountant. Please join us in congratulating Chad on his new role!

Today we honor seven Fund employees who celebrated work anniversaries in September! Thank you for all you do to advance the Fund's mission of providing affordable housing opportunities. Whether you work directly with properties or behind the scenes, your work does not go unnoticed. We appreciate each of you!

September is National Mortgage Professionals Month, so we're introducing you to some of our Single-Family Lending team who together worked to help more than 1,600 West Virginians purchase their first homes last year. Today we meet Mortgage Loan Originator Melissa Smith. Describe your job in a couple of sentences. I originate and process mortgage loans for first-time homebuyers or even buyers upgrading to a bigger home. I also originate preapproval applications for potential new homeowners. How long have you worked in the mortgage industry overall? 31 years and have seen many changes in this industry. What is your favorite thing about working in the mortgage industry? My favorite thing about this industry is hearing the joy of a first-time homebuyer who never thought they could buy a home and that our mortgage programs helped them achieve that dream. Also, when they tell you how easy we made the mortgage process for them. What is the top tip or advice you would give to someone who is in the process of buying their first home? My advice is before you start looking for a home to get preapproved so that you know what sales price to look at and what your estimated payment will be so that you are not overextending yourself. Also monitor your credit score through a reputable credit monitoring company and have some savings built up, because you are going to need funds to pay for items during the mortgage process. A good credit score and having money saved will increase your chances of getting preapproved to buy a home.

The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is seeking comments on its draft application for the HUD PRO Housing Grant Program, which aims to identify and reduce barriers to affordable housing production. A draft of this application is available on our website. We encourage interested parties to review and provide feedback. Written comments may be submitted by emailing [email protected] or by mail to the Fund at: West Virginia Housing Development Fund, Attention: Legal Dept. 5710 MacCorkle Ave. SE Charleston, WV 25304 All comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 11. A public hearing will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 7 at the Fund’s office. Interest parties may attend this hearing in person or by calling 1-800-804-5051, Conference ID number: 8722267, PIN: 5348. Please provide advance notice if you require special accommodations and/or language assistance. Please contact the Fund at 800-933-9843 if you have any questions regarding the public hearing.?

September is National Mortgage Professionals Month, so we've been shining the spotlight on members of our Single-Family Lending team who helped make homeownership happen for more than 1,600 West Virginians last year. Today we meet Justin Hylbert, who serves dual roles as leader of our Business Development efforts and the Loan Origination team. Describe your job in a couple of sentences: I oversee and coordinate the onboarding of new lender partners and provide ongoing program support for our existing partners. Additionally, I manage the Fund's talented staff of in-house, retail Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs). How long have you worked in the mortgage industry? 15+ years What is your favorite thing about your job? That I am indirectly responsible for assisting folks procure an affordable and safe, basic need - shelter - is extremely fulfilling to me. I am proud of the work we accomplish and feel we are in an often underappreciated, noble profession. What is your top tip or advice for someone who is considering homeownership? Do your research. Preparation for arguably one's biggest investment for themselves and their families is critical and often overlooked. Engage professionals that have your best interests in mind. And trust the process; homeownership will happen when it's supposed to happen. I truly believe this.

September is National Mortgage Professionals Month, so over the next couple of weeks we will spotlight the folks who, over the past year, have helped more than 1,600 West Virginians achieve their dreams of homeownership! Next up is Kay Bowe who leads the team that makes sure all loans are acceptable and ready for closing. Describe your job in a few sentences. I am the Underwriting and Post-Closing manager. I started out as an Underwriter at WVHDF in 2005, moved up to Underwriting Manager in 2015 and then added to the Post-Closing department in 2023. We underwrite for both our retail department as well as many of our participating lenders, reviewing the loans for credit and property acceptability to the program guidelines. Once a loan is closed we review the closed loan for pertinent documents and follow up with deferred documents until we can clear the file. We also set up the closed loan on the servicing system and work. I also work closely with our QC department. How long have you worked in the mortgage industry? I started in the mortgage industry in 1985 so right at 38 years. What is your favorite thing about your job? The most enjoyable part of my job is the relationships with our lenders. Over the years I’ve worked with some incredible people. It’s great sharing information and working together to put families into homes. The excitement of a new homeowner is a sweet reward. I’ve had the privilege to watch all 3 of our girls purchase their first home using WVHDF programs so it’s especially rewarding to see how our program helps. What is your top tip or advice for someone preparing to buy their first home? Find a loan officer that you feel comfortable with and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Also choose a house that you love because it’s a long term commitment. Homeownership is going to bring some new challenges to your life – a 30 year monthly payment ??, needed upkeep and those ugly repairs that will crop up. While we always hope the value will appreciate with time, the components of the home such as heating and cooling, the hot water tank, roof, etc. will need updated along with way. Don’t select a property that is going to make you house poor so that you fall out of love.

September is National Mortgage Professionals Month, so over the next couple of weeks will spotlight the folks who, over the past year, have helped more than 1,600 West Virginians achieve their dreams of homeownership! We'll start with the leader of the pack, Jon Rogers, Senior Division Manager of Single-Family Lending. How would you describe your job? I’m the guy who leads all of our loan origination business at the Fund as the Senior Division Manager. I work to keep the business flowing in from our lenders by ensuring that our programs are attractive to customers and designed to be as affordable as possible. I work internally with our finance staff to inform them of our production activity so that we always have sufficient funds available to meet the demand that comes to us. How long have you worked in the mortgage industry? I’ve been a mortgage banker for more than 35 years, so I’ve seen many cycles over those years. I’ve been through the stock market crash of 1987, the housing crisis of 2008 and all the industry reforms that came as a result. Hopefully I’ve learned some mistakes NOT to make as a result. What is your favorite thing about working in the mortgage industry? Early in my career it was highly satisfying to see my customers become homeowners as a result of the work I did on their behalf. Later, I’ve enjoyed teaching younger mortgage bankers how to make loans and how to grow in their careers in the mortgage industry. What is the top tip or advice you would give to someone who is in the process of buying their first home? Potential first-time homebuyers should always find and engage a trusted advisor to help guide them through the process. The best advisors are mortgage loan officers but also realtors and other financial professionals can be very helpful. I would add, while it can be difficult, it is often important to approach the home buying process objectively, as a business transaction, and do your best to remove the emotions from the decisions that must be made throughout the process. Check back through the rest of September as we continue to spotlight the Fund's' knowledgeable mortgage professionals. #NationalMortgageProfessionalMonth

The Veterans’ Home Loan Mortgage Program is now live! Starting today, WVHDF partner lenders can begin locking in 30-year, fixed-rate loans for eligible borrowers. Learn more about the program and see if you qualify. To find a WVHDF Partner Lender near you, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dPRNdh4U. The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is an Equal Opportunity Lender, NMLS # 198038. #wvveterans #firsttimehomebuyer #veteranhomeownership

Announcing the West Virginia Veteran's Home Loan Morgage Program! Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Justice signed into law Senate Bill 261 to create this new pathway to homeownership for our state's eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses, funded by an $8 million transfer from Unclaimed Property. We are pleased to announce this program will launch on Thursday, September 12! West Virginia has a high population of veterans who, like most of us, have felt the effects of high interest rates and record inflation. This program provides low-interest rate, 30-year mortgages to eligible borrowers, in turn allowing them to put down roots in West Virginia, build equity in their homes, and strengthen communities. Additional program details include: >No income limit >$350,000 purchase price limit >$2,500 required borrower contribution >Optional down payment and closing cost assistance available The Fund's statewide network of Partner Lenders is ready to start locking in loans on September 12. Visit www.wvhdf.com/lenders to find a partner in your area. Be on the lookout for more information about this program, including interest rates, next week!

Fund offices and call centers are closed today in observance of Labor Day. WE stand with and appreciate the workers who make America great!