Copyright 2002 The San Diego Union-Tribune  
The San Diego Union-Tribune
January 25, 2002, Friday
SECTION: NEWS;Pg. A-10

LENGTH: 149 words

HEADLINE: Bush seeks boost in home buyer help

BYLINE: Associated Press

BODY:
WASHINGTON -- President Bush plans to propose a 75 percent increase in a program that provides free counseling to help home buyers avoid pitfalls such as predatory lending and excessive interest rates.

The budget Bush is proposing for the next fiscal year will seek $35 million for the counseling program, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said yesterday.

The extra $15 million Bush is requesting would come on top of the $20 million Congress approved for the counseling program this year.

The counseling program has been helping 200,000 families a year make better decisions about renting and buying homes, and the new money would add an additional 150,000 beneficiaries, HUD said. The government competitively awards grants to private, nonprofit counseling services to educate interested families on the lending process, budgeting and credit ratings.



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