Freddie Mac SmartBuy, Closing Cost Assistance Program Expires This Month

Since July, Freddie Mac has been offering to pay home buyers up to 3.5 percent for closing cost assistance and a 2 year home warranty through their HomeSteps SmartBuy program. This is a huge incentive that has come in handy for those with not a lot of cash lying around and/or wanting to use the money in other ways. But the program is soon coming to an end.

Freddie Mac’s HomeSteps SmartBuy program will expire October 30, 2009. In order to qualify, home buyers must make an initial offer on a HomeSteps home by October 30, 2009 with closing completed by December 31, 2009. It applies only to houses purchased as a primary residence.

If you submit an offer on a HomeSteps home after October 30, any closing cost assistance from Freddie Mac will have to be negotiated.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Freddie Mac HomeSteps home or have any questions about the SmartBuy program, click here to contact me.

Click here to search for available Freddie Mac HomeSteps SmartBuy homes in the area.

GrowSmartBiz Conference – Helping Small Business Owners Grow Their Business

Network Solutions and The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business have put together the first-ever GrowSmartBiz Conference, a one-day educational conference and networking event featuring renowned small business leaders and well-known industry experts from across the U.S.  I am fortunate to have been chosen as one of the panelists at the conference and am looking very forward to it.

The conference will focus on key areas of business that small businesses view as critical to their success according to the 1,500 small businesses that were interviewed for the Small Business Success Index (SBSI).

The goal of the event is to provide small business owners with the proper tools in today’s marketplace that will best grow their business. The event is being held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

What topics will be covered?

• Driving Small Business Performance with Marketing & Innovation
• Raising Capital with Effective Finance Strategies
• Staying Ahead in the Current Economy
• Social Media Marketing

Is there a keynote speaker?

• Yes – Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine, Author of “The Long Tail” and most recently, “Free fame!”

What will you get out of it?

• Insights into best practices of successful small businesses
• Strategies for growth despite the current economy
• Cost-effective ways to market and promote their businesses
• Tips for raising capital
• An opportunity to connect with small business owners, experts, and solution providers

Who should attend?

• Small business owners
• Entrepreneurs
• Aspiring CEOs

For more information, check out the GrowSmartBiz Conference web site, the GrowSmartBiz page on Cvent.com or the Network Solutions’ blog.

To save $100 on registration, click on the GrowSmartBiz  icon/widget located at the bottom of the right hand column of any page on LoudounScene.com.