JENNIFER'S CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE! MORTGAGE INFO, SANTA CLAUS & THE ARTS
MORTGAGE INFO, SANTA CLAUS & THE ARTS
CHICAGO - People wishing to buy or refinance who cannot afford a substantial down payment and whose FICO credit scores are less than 680 may have a difficult time getting a new mortgage, and will face higher fees.
Mortgage Investors Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will be charging increased fees for a wide range of borrowers who have saved less than a 30% down payment, and whose credit scores fall in the 620-680 range. These borrowers were previously treated to as best qualified mortgage loan applicants. Mortgage insurers, which protect banks and mortgage companies who issue loans to those with less than a 20% down payment, are raising their costs to borrowers, too. Together these surcharges could amount to thousands of dollars in upfront costs or an increased loan interest rate. Learn more by clicking here.
LAKEVIEW - Santa Claus comes to visit the children at the 23rd Police District.
Officer Joe Cox has been a civil servant in this neighborhood for over 21 years. He has seen the changes of the diversity of families who once lived there, but still see no lack of need children.
There were a significant enough number of children whose names were furnished by 11 local schools that Santa made the special trip and posed for pictures and gave away gifts and stockings. Read more here.
ROGERS PARK - Rogers Park is proudly hosting a new holiday tradition. Aspiring actors and actresses between the years of 3 and 87 years old from Rogers Park and surrounding communities are cast for "The Nutcracker."
Classes were offered for instrumental, dance, voice, and acting by Performing Arts Limited located at 2740 W. Touhy Ave. Artistic Director, Katie Kinyon is putting together the first neighborhood-based ballet performance of The Nutcracker at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 11th at Saint Scholastica Academy's Nolan Center for the Arts. Read all about the local stars by clicking here.
JEFFERSON PARK - A water-colored mural of the late great baseball icon, Roberto Clemente, Cesar Chavez, and famed artist Diego Rivera was selected by teachers and others chosen to judge the art contest. Artist, 18 year old Roberto Peregrina of Avon dale planned for his work to be original and different.
It took first place at The National Museum of Mexican Art. To see the piece and learn more, click here.
OAK PARK - Discussions to construct an Oak Park underground retail mart with condos and parking are underway. Proposals were recently accepted as the Village Board is considering the field of companies for redevelopment.
Other proposals were eliminated by the Village Board, one of which included a medical facility.
Final stages are set for proposals for the property in the heart of Oak Park's "Superblock." Read about it by clicking here.
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DEAN'S TEAM "CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD" REPORTER,
JENNIFER GARRITY
