Louisiana Native and Best Selling Author donates guide to Nonprofit

New Orleans, LA July 12, 2007 – The foreclosure crisis continues to plague homeowners across the country. While Louisiana fares relatively well compared to the rest of the country, at one point last year, the state has seen increases as high as 95 percent. This year, the rate climbed 40 percent from January to February. Denver author and Louisiana native Taffy Wagner, DMin, knows an educated consumer is far less likely to fall into foreclosure. That’s why she is donating 300 copies of her best-selling guide, “Homeowner’s Helper,” to American Sunrise Communities in time for its HomeStart Conference in New Orleans on July 14.

“It means a lot to me to be able to reach out to the people of my home state with a tool that will help them succeed,” Wagner said. “Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American dream, but for too many people, it has turned into a nightmare. If consumers are educated with practical information, they can make wise decisions that will strengthen their families and protect their investments.”

Homebuyer's Helper will support the overall mission of American Sunrise Communities, a nonprofit organization founded by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. The organization works with real estate professionals, community lenders, faith-based organizations, major employers and other nonprofit agencies to help low-income people realize the American dream of homeownership.

Wagner has followed the foreclosure crisis for months. From her Denver home, she has seen Colorado maintain the highest foreclosure rates in the country for the past year. She works with members of the state’s cutting-edge Foreclosure Prevention Task Force to brainstorm ways to help people keep their homes. She has also donated her book to Colorado nonprofit housing organizations to support their efforts to educate consumers.

“Whether a person is purchasing a home for the first time or coming out of foreclosure, my guide can help,” Wagner said. “The person in foreclosure needs to understand what the steps are in starting over. The person buying a home for the first time needs to know the ins and outs as well as the extraneous expenses beyond the initial cost of the home. If we properly prepare families for homeownership, we can turn this crisis around.”

About Taffy Wagner, DMin:
Wagner is an author, counselor and speaker. She is with JTW Publishing, LLC and Journey to Wholeness. Wagner is available to speak to individuals, groups and corporations. For more information, go to www.paidoff.net. For bulk purchases of “Homebuyer’s Helper,” contact her through her website.