TYPICALLY HOME VALUES HAVE BEEN SO DEPRESSED IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, IT DOESN'T MAKE FINANCIAL SINCE FOR SOMEBODY TO BUY AND INVEST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED TO RENOVATE AND MAINTAIN A PROPERTY.

>> THE MORE VACANT HOMES THAT YOU DO HAVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OR ON A PARTICULAR STREET, YOU MAY SEE INCREASE IN CRIME, YOU MAY SEE A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT'S JUST UNDESIRABLE.

SO THE GREATER SYRACUSE LAND BANK IS A LOCAL PUBLIC AUTHORITY CREATED TO DEAL WITH VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES AND FACILITATE THEIR RETURN TO PRODUCTIVE USE.

IT COSTS ABOUT $2 MILLION BASELINE TO KEEP THE LAND BANK RUNNING EACH YEAR AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE CITY AND COUNTING USED FOR THE BASELINE OPERATIONS AND THEN TO GO ABOVE THAT, WE NEED CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR DEMOLITIONS AN BUILDING STABILIZATION.

>> SO IN JUNE, WE WERE AWARDED A $1.8 MILLION GRANT FROM NEW YORK STATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL AND THAT $1.8 MILLION WILL ENABLE US TO DEMOLISH 36 BLIGHTED HOMES THAT ARE TOO FAR GONE TO BE SAVED, AND THEY'RE DRAGGING DOWN SURROUNDING HOME VALUES.

SO GETTING RID OF THOSE BLIGHTED HOMES WILL HELP STABILIZE THE SURROUNDING VALUES AND WE'VE SOLD 1300 PROPERTIES TO DATE AND THOSE ARE GENERATING ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR IN LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES.

WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO GET MORE MOVE-IN READY HOMES ON THE MARKET FOR OWNER OCCUPANT BUYERS BECAUSE THAT'S THE GOAL.

WE REALLY WANT TO INCREASE OUR OWNER OCCUPANCY RATE.

HOME HEADQUARTERS IS A CRITICAL PARTNER.

THEY PURCHASE A LOTTED OF CRITICAL HOMES FOR US TO RENOVATE AND PURCHASE VACANT LAND FOR COULD BE INSTRUCTION OF NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

>> WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS HERE THAT SERVE MANY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS IS OUR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER EDUCATION COURSE.

YOU ARE LITERALLY TAUGHT EVERYTHING A-Z FOR THE HOME BUYING PROCESS.

ANOTHER PROGRAM HERE IS THE SYRACUSE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER.

IT TEACHES YOU TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A BUDGET AND JUST BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY SOUND AND STABLE FOR YOUR FAMILY OR WHATEVER IT IS YOUR GOAL CAN BE.

WE OFFER MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF LENDING SERVICES HERE.

WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOAN OUT TO PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE A LESS CREDIT SCORE THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED AT A TYPICAL BANK.

WE ARE SUPPORTED BY HUD.

WE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

WE ARE SUPPORTED BY NEW YORK STATE, BY ONONDAGA COUNTY.

WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BANKS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE SPEND A LITTLE OVER $400,000 ON A NEW BUILD.

BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SUBSIDIES, WE DON'T CHARGE THE HOMEOWNER $400,000 FOR THE HOME.

WE ARE ABLE TO SELL OUR HOMES FOR LESS AND THEY'RE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES HERE.

WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT JUST A NUMBER ON PAPER.

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU REACH WHATEVER YOUR GOAL IS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE AT HOME HEADQUARTERS.

WE KNOW THE MARKET, WE KNOW THE PEOPLE, WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOU IN A POSITION TO WHERE YOU CAN THRIVE IN YOUR HOME AND IN YOUR