A1 San Antonio Stories: Counselors’ Reports from the Field

Monday, September 15, 2008 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM; Room 101A

Foreclosure counseling is a preventative strategy that combats foreclosure one case at a time.  Success stories, experiences from the field, and advice from counselors in San Antonio can provide insight into effective methods to counteract foreclosure.

Augustine Sanchez, Housing Program Manager, Housing Counseling Program, Department of Community Iniatives, City of San Antonio

Mr. Sanchez has worked with the City of San Antonio in the area of Fair Housing for the past 15 years.  before that he was employed with a local non-profit community development organization as a Real Estate Property Manager.  he is a Certified housing Counselor under the National Federation of Housing Counselors and has over 20 years of experience in the housing field.  Mr. Sanchez has a certificate of completion in the Texas accessibility Standards of Architectural Barriers Act and extensive training in the Accessibility Requirements of the Fair housing Act.  Mr. Sanchez is certified as a Reverse Mortgage (HECM) Counselor and a Foreclosure Prevention/Default Counselor.  He supervises a staff of four certified housing counselors that provide comprehensive housing counseling services to the residents of San Antonio and Bexar County.

Esther M. Hernandez, Housing Loan Officer, Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services, City of San Antonio

Ms. Hernandez has been employed with the City of San Antonio since 2001 and currently administers the Homeownership Incentive Program and Homebuyer(s) Club.  Her department’s focus is the educating of the first time homebuyer, assist with the down payment and closing costs, and teach them how to keep their homes with their Post Purchase Class.  These classes purposes are to help their buyers avoid the delinquency and foreclosure lists.

As a housing counselor and loan officer Ms. Hernandez underwrites the loans, credit counsel (short term), and assist with the marketing and outreach of these programs.  She participates in radio and television interviews as well as making public presentations to partners and potential partners.  Last fiscal year her department closed 196 loans to first time home buyers using about $1,526,000.

Since 1981 Ms. Hernandez has been employed in the “housing” industry in some form or another.  She worked with the contractors who built Windsor Park Mall, the engineers and architects who constructed the Tower of the Americas, Sea World, and the Alamodome.  She also has experience in the banking industry by working for Frost Bank, International Bank of Commerce, NationsBank, and Broadway National Bank.

Amelia “Molly” Ruiz, FHA Account Liaison, Office of Business Development, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ms. Ruiz brings more than and decade of experience in the field of housing.  She has an extensive and diverse experience in the areas of housing and real estate (both as a Real Estate Broker/Owner for 8 years and presently with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD/FHA 22 years).

Ms. Ruiz has worked in a variety of housing program areas with most of her career in the field of Single Family Housing.  She has also worked in the area for Filed Policy Management and served as a Community Builder.  In the area of housing, she served as a Realty Specialist in Property Disposition, Asset Manager, Loan Specialist, Mortgage Underwriting/Program Specialist and Single Family Colonia Specialist.  She previously served as the Denver Homeownership Center (HOC) FHA Liaison, representing the San Antonio Field Office (serving the 57 county-jurisdiction).  She is also a Texas Real Estate Commission certified trainer and conducts credit courses for FHA training at the  San Antonio Board of Realtors.  She has held a Real Estate Broker’s License since 1979 (she currently does not practice real estate).

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