Home Ownership: A Home Buying Education Series
In today’s market, owning a home can be just as affordable as renting. Would you rather pay yourself instead of a landlord? Are you wondering if you can get approved for a mortgage? Would you like to know what first-time homebuyer programs are available?
This year, SHED and its financial partners once again offered their popular four-part education series on home ownership. The final session, “Appraisals & Inspections,” took place on October 16, 2025, and featured Gail Brown of Brown-Kortkamp Realty.
You can watch a recording of the session and find recaps/videos from all four of this year’s webinars below.
2025
Part IV: Appraisals & Inspections
Date: October 16, 2025
In our final session of the year, “Appraisals and Inspections,” Gail Brown of Brown-Kortkamp Realty walked participants though the differences between home appraisals and inspections and answered key questions such as: ‘Why do I need an inspection?’; ‘What do appraisers and inspectors look for?’; and ‘How can a low appraisal or poor inspection affect my purchase?’
VIDEO COMING SOON
Part III: Protecting Your Property
Date: August 7, 2025
In the third installment of our 2025 Home Ownership webinar series, “Protecting Your Property,” Rachel Waterman from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri shared essential estate planning tips every homeowner should know and answered important questions like: ‘How can you ensure your assets are passed on to your heirs?’; ‘What is an estate plan, and who should have one?’; and ‘How do you create an effective estate plan?’
Part II: Maximizing Your Home's Value
Date: June 12, 2025
In the second installment of our 2025 Home Ownership webinar series, “Maximizing Your Home’s Value,” local experts discuss how to make smart upgrades, attract buyers, and fund your home improvements. Specifically, viewers hear from U-City handyman Tim Vickers with remodeling tips that deliver the best return on investment, realtor Cindy Thierry of Laura McCarthy Realtors on what sells, and Daphne Stallings of Simmons Bank on financing options that make it all possible.
Date: March 13, 2025
The first installment of our 2025 Home Ownership webinar series, “Tell Your Money Where To Go Instead of Wondering Where It Went,” is an interactive session led by Tim Clavin, Financial Wellness Director at St. Louis Community Credit Union, that guides viewers through budgeting essentials and how to develop a spending plan to achieve their homeownership goals.
2024
Part IV: What You Need to Know About Insurance
Date: December 12, 2024
Debbie Swain of Goosehead Insurance covers how insurance protects your largest asset, the types of coverage you need, and the factors that determine your insurance premium.
Part III: Understanding Your Mortgage Credit Score
Date: October 24, 2024
Waymon Williams from Carrollton Bank discusses mortgage credit scores, explaining the difference between bad credit and no credit, options for buying a home with a low credit score, and available assistance programs.
Part II: Estate Planning Is For Everyone
Date: August 22, 2024
Rachel Waterman of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri discussed estate plans, who needs them, and how to ensure your assets go to your heirs.
2023
Part I: Am I Eligible to Buy a Home
Date: April 6, 2023
Juan Villarreal of PNC Bank and Cindy Thierry of Laura McCarthy Real Estate discussed available homebuyer programs and how homeownership builds wealth.
Part II: Understanding the Home Buying Process
Date: June 22, 2023
Nikol Theberge of First Bank joined us as we learned how to look for a lender and get pre-approved and what to expect in the home buying process from pre-approval to closing day.
Additional Resources
Part III: Down Payment Assistance and Credit Repair
Date: September 14, 2023
Bill Bruce of Enterprise Bank & Trust discussed programs to build and repair credit. Attendees learned:
- The difference between no credit and bad credit.
- Buying a house with a low credit score.
- How to get assistance with closing costs and down payments.
Part IV: Seasonal Home Maintenance
Date: November 9, 2023
Eric Mitchell of Great Southern Bank reviewed how to care for your largest asset with a yearly maintenance schedule. Attendees learned about upgrading to build a home’s value and discovered DIY resources to save money on repairs and routine maintenance.
2025
Part I: Budgeting Essentials
Date: March 13, 2025
The first installment of our 2025 Home Ownership webinar series, “Tell Your Money Where To Go Instead of Wondering Where It Went,” is an interactive session led by Tim Clavin, Financial Wellness Director at St. Louis Community Credit Union, that guides viewers through budgeting essentials and how to develop a spending plan to achieve their homeownership goals.
2024
Part IV: What You Need to Know About Insurance
Date: December 12, 2024
Debbie Swain of Goosehead Insurance covers how insurance protects your largest asset, the types of coverage you need, and the factors that determine your insurance premium.
Part III: Understanding Your Mortgage Credit Score
Date: October 24, 2024
Waymon Williams from Carrollton Bank discusses mortgage credit scores, explaining the difference between bad credit and no credit, options for buying a home with a low credit score, and available assistance programs.
Part II: Estate Planning Is For Everyone
Date: August 22, 2024
Rachel Waterman of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri discussed estate plans, who needs them, and how to ensure your assets go to your heirs.
2023
Part I: Am I Eligible to Buy a Home
Date: April 6, 2023
Juan Villarreal of PNC Bank and Cindy Thierry of Laura McCarthy Real Estate discussed available homebuyer programs and how homeownership builds wealth.
Part II: Understanding the Home Buying Process
Date: June 22, 2023
Nikol Theberge of First Bank joined us as we learned how to look for a lender and get pre-approved and what to expect in the home buying process from pre-approval to closing day.
Additional Resources
Part III: Down Payment Assistance and Credit Repair
Date: September 14, 2023
Bill Bruce of Enterprise Bank & Trust discussed programs to build and repair credit. Attendees learned:
- The difference between no credit and bad credit.
- Buying a house with a low credit score.
- How to get assistance with closing costs and down payments.
Part IV: Seasonal Home Maintenance
Date: November 9, 2023
Eric Mitchell of Great Southern Bank reviewed how to care for your largest asset with a yearly maintenance schedule. Attendees learned about upgrading to build a home’s value and discovered DIY resources to save money on repairs and routine maintenance.
2025
Part I: Budgeting Essentials
Date: March 13, 2025
The first installment of our 2025 Home Ownership webinar series, “Tell Your Money Where To Go Instead of Wondering Where It Went,” is an interactive session led by Tim Clavin, Financial Wellness Director at St. Louis Community Credit Union, that guides viewers through budgeting essentials and how to develop a spending plan to achieve their homeownership goals.
2024
Part IV: What You Need to Know About Insurance
Date: December 12, 2024
Debbie Swain of Goosehead Insurance covers how insurance protects your largest asset, the types of coverage you need, and the factors that determine your insurance premium.
Part III: Understanding Your Mortgage Credit Score
Date: October 24, 2024
Waymon Williams from Carrollton Bank discusses mortgage credit scores, explaining the difference between bad credit and no credit, options for buying a home with a low credit score, and available assistance programs.
Part II: Estate Planning Is For Everyone
Date: August 22, 2024
Rachel Waterman of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri discussed estate plans, who needs them, and how to ensure your assets go to your heirs.
2023
Part I: Am I Eligible to Buy a Home
Date: April 6, 2023
Juan Villarreal of PNC Bank and Cindy Thierry of Laura McCarthy Real Estate discussed available homebuyer programs and how homeownership builds wealth.
Part II: Understanding the Home Buying Process
Date: June 22, 2023
Nikol Theberge of First Bank joined us as we learned how to look for a lender and get pre-approved and what to expect in the home buying process from pre-approval to closing day.
Additional Resources
Part III: Down Payment Assistance and Credit Repair
Date: September 14, 2023
Bill Bruce of Enterprise Bank & Trust discussed programs to build and repair credit. Attendees learned:
- The difference between no credit and bad credit.
- Buying a house with a low credit score.
- How to get assistance with closing costs and down payments.
Part IV: Seasonal Home Maintenance
Date: November 9, 2023
Eric Mitchell of Great Southern Bank reviewed how to care for your largest asset with a yearly maintenance schedule. Attendees learned about upgrading to build a home’s value and discovered DIY resources to save money on repairs and routine maintenance.