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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD The effort to revitalize the Old Hill neighborhood by building 100 new homes in the next five years received a boost last week when the Massachusetts Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network (MLS PIN) donated a $10,000 grant to HAP, Inc. the region's housing partnership. Kathy Condon, president and CEO of MLS PIN and Melissa Lindberg, director of marketing and public relations made the presentation to Peter Gagliardi, HAP's executive director. The presentation took place at 170 Pendleton Ave., the address of the first new home of the 100 that will be constructed in the neighborhood on Wednesday. Debi McPartlan, HAP's sales and marketing representative, said the two recent open houses yielded 30 applications from prospective buyers. The buyers must qualify for a mortgage and McPartlan said HAP would work with the candidates to help them issues with their credit history and others concerns. McPartlan said that with some mortgage arrangements the monthly payment would be the same if not less than what many people are paying for rent. She said the home would sell between $105,000 and $110,000. Part of the challenge in finding the right buyer is finding one who has a family that needs a three-bedroom home, she said. The buyer must not only be qualified to pay for the house, but have the family who fits best in the home. If there is more than one qualified buyer, there will be a lottery, she said. If not, then the first qualified buyer will get the home. For more information on the house, call HAP at 233-1500. |