Roland and Heidi were joined by Kathi Thomas from the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and Kate Zook from the Silver State Fair Housing Council. Kathi oversees public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program, which has 13,000 vouchers in Southern Nevada. Kate focuses on fair housing laws and discrimination. They highlight the need for 80,000 affordable housing units in Nevada and the importance of training for landlords and housing providers. Upcoming events include a Path to Homeownership workshop on February 7.

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of homeownership readiness and the emotional aspects of buying a home. They emphasize the need to prepare financially by saving for future mortgage payments and building reserves for home improvements and emergencies. They highlight the significance of credit checks, noting common errors like name spellings and duplicate student loans. They explain the concept of debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and its impact on mortgage approval. Additionally, they stress the importance of understanding lender overlays, such as minimum credit scores, and the benefits of working with HUD-certified credit counselors. The program also touches on fair housing laws and the role of the Silver State Fair Housing Council.

Roland and Heidi discuss housing options and the importance of fair housing. They highlight the upcoming 44th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday parade and the role of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) in promoting fair housing. They emphasize the importance of budgeting, including saving for a mortgage, and checking credit reports for errors. They explain VA loans, FHA loans, and conventional loans, noting VA loans offer no down payment and no mortgage insurance for veterans, while FHA loans require a minimum credit score of 500 with a 10% down payment or 580 for 3.5%. Conventional loans have varying credit score requirements and loan level price adjustments.

Roland and Heidi discuss housing options and the challenges of homeownership. They emphasize how down payment assistance programs can help make homeownership more accessible, talk about budgeting strategies, including mortgage readiness savings plans, and stress the importance of checking and correcting credit reports. They also promote the Silver State Fair Housing Council's housing tester program to combat discrimination.

Roland and Heidi discuss homeownership opportunities and resources for 2026. They highlight the Nevada Housing Division's $20,000 Worker Advantage program, available to healthcare, construction, education, and public safety workers, offering down payment assistance and interest rate reduction options. They also mention the First Time Home Buyer program and the HIP DPA, which can provide up to 5% down payment assistance. Additionally, they discuss refinancing options, including HELOCs and cash-out refinancing, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's financial goals and long-term implications.

Roland and Heidi discuss the Worker Advantage Program in Nevada, which offers $20,000 down payment assistance to essential workers in healthcare, education, public safety, and construction. The program has already reserved 50 of the 900 available loans. They highlight the importance of credit and financial preparation for homeownership, noting that 68% of people cite a lack of down payment as the primary barrier. They also emphasize the role of fair housing and the Silver State Fair Housing Council's housing tester program in promoting equal opportunities. Upcoming Home is Possible home buyer education class with the Nevada Housing Division is scheduled for January 7.

Heidi discusses the challenges of home ownership, particularly the down payment, which takes an average of six years to save. She and her guest, Josie Hatem, Homebuyer Programs Specialist with Nevada Housing Division, highlight the new Worker Advantage Program. The program offers $20,000 in down payment assistance with the potential to buy down the interest rate. This program is available to essential workers in healthcare, education, public safety, and construction. The Nevada Housing Division programs have helped over 31,000 families since 2014. They also talk about other programs like the HIP DPA and the Teachers Program, which offer varying levels of assistance.

Roland Daniels and Heidi Griffith discuss the Ruby Thomas toy drive, which has collected over 700 gifts for children at Ruby Thomas, a school where all students receive free meals and many are unhoused. They also highlight the Silver State Fair Housing Council, which ensures equal housing opportunities. Kate Zook, the council's executive director, explains the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The council offers training and testing to identify housing discrimination and provides resources and support for those affected. They also mention the Workers Advantage Program, offering up to $20,000 in down payment assistance for eligible Nevada residents.