Home Buyer Classes Offered in Lawrence County

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Home buyer classes will be offered Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 10 to Feb. 7 at First Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Jefferson St.

The free sessions will start by reviewing and accessing credit reports and will be facilitated by Gayle Young, United Way of Lawrence County, and Darlene Sansone, Penn State Extension.

Local financial institutions, along with sponsors, are providing $50 gift cards to participants who complete all five sessions. The presenters of the classes include various banks, utility companies, Neighborhood Legal Services, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and several nonprofit agencies.

The classes are in response to a housing study that was conducted by the Lawrence County commissioners. The results of the study showed that the average rent in the county is close to $800 per month, and most renters earn less than $20,000 per year.

These households earn more than the federal poverty level but less than the basic cost of living. According to the report, these families make up close to 50 percent of Lawrence County’s population.

“This program helped lift several families out of poverty by providing the essential tools needed to guide them through the process of homeownership,” said Gayle Young, executive director of United Way of Lawrence County.

The class size is limited, and early registration is encouraged by calling the United Way of Lawrence County at 724 658 8528.

Pictured at top: In this Sept. 21, 2021, file photo, a sign indicates that this home is sold in Mount Lebanon, Pa. (AP Photo | Gene J. Puskar, File)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.