Do you long for the security of owning your own home, but feel overwhelmed about where to start? There are lots of resources available to you, including $15,000 down payment grants for qualified first-generation home buyers through the Vermont Housing Finance Authority. Here at the Brattleboro Food Co-op, we are putting them all together for one great home-buying workshop! Come learn the basics of home-buying from realtor John Hatton, find out about resources you might qualify for from Kayla Bernier-Wright of Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, and hear how the mortgage application process works, from Ethan Grimes, 802 Credit Union.

Brattleboro Food Co-op educator Lisa will also share information about an easy way to stay on your food budget while honoring what is important to you as you feed your family.

Lunch is provided at this free workshop, however, enrollment is limited to 20 people, and the registration deadline is January 25th. Be sure to enroll early for this great opportunity!

Instructor Websites:
https://www.berkleyveller.com/

https://www.homemattershere.org/

Instructor Bios:

Kayla Bernier-Wright is a Homeownership Specialist at Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT.)  She has been in this role for almost 3 years and is a HUD-certified housing counselor.  Originally from Brattleboro, she didn’t go far for college; she is a proud graduate of Smith College in Northampton, MA.  Her work at WWHT involves providing first-time homebuyers education, administering down payment assistance funds, budget and credit counseling, and helping current homeowners stay in their homes (i.e. preventing foreclosure.)  Her home base is in Bellows Falls and she works with residents throughout Windham & Windsor counties.  Outside of work, her and her husband’s time is occupied by keeping up with their toddler and their 3 poorly-behaved, well-loved dogs.

John Hatton has been in sales and customer service for his entire working career. He has been a licensed Realtor since 2003 and has his Broker’s license, and is the Sales Manager at Berkley & Veller. John holds the National Association of Realtor’s Green Designation, and has training and experience in (and passion for) green building and energy efficiency issues. He is also an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), has earned the ePRO and the Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) designations.

John and his family have been in the Brattleboro area since 1991. John is known for providing superlative and personal customer service. He was voted the Southern Vermont Board of Realtors (SVBR) “Realtor of the Year” for 2011. He is currently the President of the Southern Vermont Board of Realtors. John has been the state representative to the Vermont Realtors Board of Directors, and was the Chairperson of the Governance Committee. John was an SVBR representative to the MLS Board of Directors, a member of the Governmental Advisory Committee, and helped to create SVBR’s website. John teaches the Realtor portion of the First-time Homebuyer classes for the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. He was on the Brattleboro Food Coop’s (BFC) Board of Directors for 8 years, acting as Board President for 7 of those years, and is now on the BFC Board again, along with the Boards of Directors for the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) and the Rich Earth Institute.

John lives with his wife Kate Bullock on a small farm in Westminster, loves to garden and road bike. Their kids, Tyler and Guthrie, are now adults and out in the world.