FLINT, MI – A historic homebuyer workshop is coming to Flint for the first time.

NACA, a non-profit community advocacy and homeownership organization, is hosting a free workshop on Saturday, July 15, at the New McCree Theater in Flint.

Located at 4601 Clio Road, the event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and geared toward helping people take the first steps to homeownership.

Washington Ryles, regional director for the NACA Detroit office, said the workshop covers the steps to become qualified for NACA.

“Members gets their NACA ID number and overview of the entire program from beginning to end which is getting started with the workshop, what we look at for affordability, financial management and budgeting,” Ryles said.

“Then it goes over some of the details of the program for … what it takes to be eligible for a program – it’s not for investors – and … some of the basic details of the NACA mortgage program itself.”

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Boston, NACA is the largest housing services organization in the country, according to its website.

A NACA mortgage allows NACA members to purchase their homes with:

• No down payment
• No closing costs
• No fees
• No requirement for perfect credit
• And at a below-market interest rate

Ryles said the program is open to everyone. Interested individuals can register online, but walk-ins are also accepted.

“(The workshop) is important because it gives folks access to a phenomenal mortgage product that they can get start off to create generational wealth for their families,” Ryles said. “For people who think that they cannot afford a home right now, people’s rents are so high that if you’re paying your rent on time, you should be able to afford a mortgage at that same level of payment, if not lower, right now through NACA with no problem.”

Ryles said NACA is licensed in all 50 states and does workshops, both virtual and face-to-face, twice a month.

“We’re happy to be coming to bring it to the community in the city of Flint tomorrow,” Ryles said. “Everyone should come out to hear about it and see that they have the opportunity to become a homeowner and not just be a renter for an undefined period of time.”

For more information, visit naca.com.