Monday, December 4, 2023

Opening the Door to Homeownership in Los Angeles County with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs

STAFF REPORT

Opening Doors resource fair offers current and future LA County homeowners valuable resources to guide them from buying their first home to preventing foreclosure

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) hosted a resource fair and a series of workshops on Saturday, December 2, Opening Doors: Planning for the Stages of Homeownership, to support current and prospective homeowners living in LA County. The event brought together professionals and experts at Magic Johnson Park to provide direct guidance on the processes involved in each stage of owning a home.

Topics addressed during the event include:

• Homebuyer Education
• Navigating Down Payments
• The Document Recording Process
• Assessor Property Tax Savings Programs
• Assessment Appeals and Recordation of Deeds
• Secured Property Tax Collection
• Foreclosure Timeline and Foreclosure Scams
• Mortgage Delinquency and Default Counseling
• Homeowner Notification and Mortgage Relief Programs
• Estate Planning
• Innovations in Housing
• Accessory Dwelling Units
• Common Legal Pitfalls in Homeownership

Compared to the rest of the United States, California has the second lowest home ownership rates, with 56%. This rate is even lower when looking at Los Angeles County, with 46% of residents owning the home that they live in. The high cost of living in Los Angeles is a major hurdle to purchasing a home and maintaining home ownership continues to be a challenge. California ranked as the 13th highest foreclosure rate in the nation with 2,210 foreclosures in Los Angeles in Q1 of 2023.

“Opening Doors: Planning for the Stages of Homeownership supports Los Angeles County residents across every stage of owning a home. DCBA is a hub for individuals to get guidance on buying a home, maintaining ownership, and preventing foreclosure,” said Rafael Carbajal, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. “Through this event we are bringing the resources directly to residents, and answering their questions, so that they leave feeling confident in their ability to own and maintain a home.”

DCBA provides free one-on-one counseling to homeowners on a range of topics, including foreclosure prevention, real estate fraud prevention, mortgage relief, rent relief, estate planning, and more. These services are designed to inform all homeowners on resources for buying and maintaining a home.

For more information about resources that help with the different stages of homeownership, visit DCBA’s website:

• Buying a Home: dcba.lacounty.gov/buying-a-home
• Mortgage Relief: dcba.lacounty.gov/mortgagerelief
• Foreclosure Prevention: dcba.lacounty.gov/foreclosure-prevention
• Estate Planning: dcba.lacounty.gov/leavingalegacy

Click here to view more photos of the event.

Since 1975, the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has been the local consumer protection agency serving County consumers, tenants, homeowners, immigrants, and workers. DCBA provides a wide range of services that aim to foster a fair and dynamic marketplace and enhance the economic wellbeing of our communities. This includes investigating consumer fraud complaints, enforcing the County’s minimum wage, tenant and worker protections, and providing access to justice programs. More information can be found at dcba.lacounty.gov or by calling (800) 593-8222.