Expo exhibits options

Get all your housing answers in one place Saturday during the 16th annual Community Housing Expo. The program, sponsored by Catholic Community Services Housing Counseling Program runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mariner Mall in Superior.

“The point of the Housing Expo is to inform the community of housing options and what’s going to work for you,” said Sandy Carlson, director of the Housing Counseling Program.

Approximately 40 exhibitors will be on hand, from local lenders and realtors to public housing organizations and insurance companies.

New this year will be do-it-yourself workshops from the Home Depot on decorative painting, installing wood, tile or laminate flooring and planting techniques such as container gardening.

One of the most popular booths in past has focused on Lutheran Social Services’ credit counseling program.

“That’s what people are looking for methods of financial wellness,” Carlson said. In the home-buying process, she said, credit is the No. 1 issue, especially now that credit scoring requirements have gone up. Before talking to a lender, programs such as pre-purchase counseling, offered by Catholic Community Services, or LSS’ credit counseling, can help prospective buyers build or fix their credit history.

Back for the third year, the Lead-Free Douglas County task force will provide a display of lead-containing items and recall lists.

“See if you have these recalled items at home,” Carlson said. Or just stop by their booth to grab a coloring book for the kids or a lead testing kit to bring home.

“This is one of the tables that get a lot of people going,” she said.

Local lenders will have information on the newest home-buying products offered by WHEDA. Applications for public and senior housing will be available. And there’s a bake sale and door prizes.

Visitors can even find a new pet. Animal Rescue Federation and Humane Society of Douglas County will have adoptable animals at the expo.

The Expo presents an opportunity for prospective home buyers, current home owners, renters and landlords to collect useful and practical information.

Carlson said the large number of exhibitors, up from last year, is due to the economy and the fact that people are looking for new, innovative options for selling.

That’s good news for those who visit the fair.

“Good, talented, informed professional people are going to talk to them about any housing need they have,” Carlson said.

If an interpreter for the deaf is required or accommodations for people with disabilities are needed, contact Carlson at (715) 394-6617.

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