Helping People Build Assets and Brighter Futures
Owning a home is the most important way working families build assets and long-term financial stability. Self-Help works to expand homeownership opportunities by:
- Providing mortgage loans to individuals
- Developing affordable housing
- Increasing affordable mortgages through our secondary market program
- Promoting strong homeownership policies through research and advocacy
As a mortgage lender, we know that overly-stringent lending requirements can pose a barrier to homeownership for people with modest incomes or imperfect credit histories. We work closely with borrowers who have faced financial difficulties, with a special focus on those underserved by mainstream lenders. We offer home loans and refinances to help our members build increase financial stability.
A 2014 Center for Community Capital study found that borrowers who had bought homes through Self-Help's secondary market program held on average over $25,000 in home equity--a great start in building a stronger financial future for these low- and moderate-wealth families. The Center for Community Capital’s research also has been invaluable in making clear the causes of the housing crisis and crafting public policies that protect borrowers from abusive loans while maintaining appropriate access to credit.
Recognizing the critical importance of building and protecting home equity for low and moderate wealth families, Self-Help worked with a broad coalition of banks, mortgage lenders, civil rights groups and others to enact North Carolina's groundbreaking anti-predatory mortgage lending law in 1999 -- the nation’s first. Our affiliate the Center for Responsible Lending works with policymakers, community advocates and industry groups to enact strong mortgage lending rules that protect consumers while preserving access to credit.