GETTING STARTED

The PRC's Operation Comeback wants to make it as easy as possible for you to acquire a vacant historic house and renovate it. The process is simple if you break it down into steps:

1. “Prequalify” for a Loan Knowing what you can afford is a very important first step. Visit the financing page on this web site and talk to a lender to evaluate how much you'll be able to borrow for your project. Or attend an Operation Comeback renovation financing workshop to get an excellent overview of what's available. Some web sites make it possible for you to qualify for a loan electronically. Knowing what you can afford before you start shopping for a project will save you time and frustration by helping you limit your search to appropriate candidates.

2. Identify the Project that’s Right for You How big a house do you want? What neighborhoods appeal to you? Are you willing to undertake a "gut rehab" or just a "cosmetic" renovation? How much can you comfortably afford to spend on monthly note?

   Answering these questions will help put you on track to identify the project that suits your wants and needs. Check out available properties on this site or visit the Operation Comeback office to look through our computer catalog of vacant properties and encyclopedic neighborhood notebooks. You'll find dozens of vacant houses of every style and size. Attend some of our Live in a Landmark events on site in the neighborhoods, as well as other tours and events that showcase New Orleans architecture and available houses.

   After a while, you'll get a sense of what you really want. Taking these steps will help ensure you choose a property that's uniquely suited to your life circumstances.

3. Devise a Strategy for Acquisition This sounds so easy, but it rarely is when vacant and deteriorated buildings are involved. Many owners of vacant properties cannot be found, or ownership of the houses isn't clear. Sometimes the owners have unrealistic ideas about what the property is worth. Still other vacant properties are encumbered by unpaid debts that exceed their current "fair market value." Operation Comeback staff will help you decipher what's on record about your property of interest and help you devise a practical plan for acquiring it.