~' COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND ONE (1) COPY OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT MADE BY:~~ ~~~.~ ~~~~~--- OFFICE: MEETING DATE: ~~ _/ 5,_ ~ ~ TIME PREFERRED: 9,`i3~ SUBJECT: @~~~.~~-~~-- ~~-~.~_ f~c.~~/~~- S-~v~%~~ ~%-._ EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: ~S _~ ~ /.~„~,~@ s IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 PM previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS RQUEST RECEIVED ON: @ .M. All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. Teresa Offutt 830- 896-2921 Nationally certified Housing Counselor through NCHEC (Neighborworks Center for Homeowner Education and Counseling, based in Washington D.C.) Specialized in Foreclosure Intervention and Mortgage Default Counseling Today's Purpose- Explain what housing counseling entails • Explain what I feel is happening in Kerr County Texas • Express the need for a housing counseling agency in Kerr County • Appeal for the formation of a committee to investigate the seriousness of distressed homeowners in Kerr County AboutTeresa Offutt • Kerr County resident from 1985-1990; Hill Country resident for 15 years • Graduated Schreiner College, 1990, with a B.A. in English with teacher certification • 13 years teaching in public schools Edgewood ISD, Comfort ISD, Center Point ISD, and KISD, (Tivy High School) and TJHS in Frederick, MD • 7 years experience working in the corporate arena • Over four years as a licensed Realtor, specialized in residential sales, short sales and foreclosures; has GRI designation • Over two years experience working for anon-profit, HUD approved agency, as a Housing Counselor for Washington County Communty Action Council, LLC and in counseling clients on her own • Guest speaker at real estate offices, teaching agents how to handle distressed homeowners, mortgage defaults, pending short sales and foreclosures • Appointed by the Frederick County Maryland County Commissioners Court as a member of the Frederick County Affordable Housing Council committee for a two-year term Housing Counselor Job Duties for Foreclosures and Mortgage Deliquencies • Council homeowners for free; salaries paid by funds from the HOPE grant, the City of Hagerstown and Washington County funds • Performed budget analysis • Examined Deed of Trusts, Mortgage Notes for evidence of predatory loans and exotic loans Explained the mortgage documents to the homeowners • Provided budeting assistance • Submit financial applications with needed documentation to Servicing company • Negotiated for loan modifications, forbearance plans, repayment plans, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and short sales on behalf of the homeowner • Escalate workouts, stopped foreclosure sales, and solicit the aid of pro bono attorneys if necessary The need for Housing Counseling in Kerr County • Consumer Credit Counselors of Greater San Antonio -Boerne, TX -over worked and under staffed (hiring freeze) • Unemployment rates in Kerr County at 5.8% but is actually higher than that • Real estate agents are burdened with dealing with distressed homeowners when they are not certified to do so • Kerr County homeowners have no idea where to go for help • Homes are being foreclosed on in Kerr County; real estate agents have short sale listings (1 %) • Lack of public education about HUD.GOV and the national HOPE Hotline for information on HUD approved house counseling agencies in the area Kerr County Statistics from US Census Bureau Statistics from US Census Bureau 74.6% of the homes in Kerr County are owner occupied homes 46.9% of the housing units have mortgages Out of those- 51.8% have mortgage costs greater than $1000 per month 34.9% have housing costs greater than 30% of their income 25.3% have housing costs greater than 35% of their income 25.39% of Kerr County population is 65 or older; 4.9% of the population is 60-64. Statistics from bis.gov Kerr County unemployment rate for Aug. 2009 5.6% Sept. 2009 6.0% Oct. 2009 5.8% Based on the above statistics, one out of every 16 families in Kerr County are experiencing some sort of financial difficulties: falling behind on bills, rent payments, mortgages, etc. If all the unemployed were homeowners with two working employees, than one out of every eight homes, someone is unemployed and the families are experiencing a financial hardship. Unemployment statictics are never accurate. They do not take into account those unemployed because they are self employed independent contractors, people in the process of applying for disability, those who quit their jobs, and there are some citizens who have hopes of quickly finding another job, and just don't apply for unemployment. Possible Solutions • Robert Lucio, Executive Director with Community Council of South Central Texas, non-profit agency with office location in Kerrville • Need for HUD approval (Jan. 2011) • Need for application for the HOPE grant (July 2011) • Need for financial backing from the City of Kerrville and Kerr County (A.S.A.P. 2010) Other job duties of Housing Counselors besides mortgage default and foreclosure counseling: • One-on-one pre-purchase counseling (certificates issued) • Tenant/Landlord Dispute Resolution • Reverse Mortage Counseling (certificates issued) • Budget Counseling • Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) • Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (low interest loans, deferred loans and grants) What Teresa Offutt is doing to help: • Columnist for the Kerrville Daily Times, "Housing Counseling Corner" which will answer homeowner questions regarding mortgage deliquencies and workouts, and general real estate questions • Providing FREE counseling to distressed homeowners and free coaching for homeowners wishing to work with the Servicers on their own; will also help homeowners with obtaining sustainable budgets and bill paying systems • Will be willing to be a member of a committee to investigate the severity of mortgage defaults amongst homeowners in Kerr County and to assist with a solution to help