NHT Brings Home It Expo to Montego Bay for Western Jamaica Homebuyers

Western Jamaica residents looking to build, purchase, or upgrade a home received hands-on support at the National Housing Trust (NHT) Home It Expo, which took place at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St. James, on July 3.

Sabrena McDonald Radcliffe, Assistant General Manager of Advertising, Marketing and Aftersales at the NHT, told JIS News that the fair was set up as a single venue where visitors could gather the advice and tools required at each step of the path to owning a home.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. McDonald Radcliffe said the Trust joined forces with multiple partners to simplify access to homeownership for Jamaicans.

"The whole intention is to get Jamaicans closer to home as a one-stop-shop location for everything along the whole ownership journey," she said.

Visitors could collect complimentary building plans from the NHT's Construction and Development Team, seek advice on erecting a house on private land, explore options for buying through NHT programmes or on the open market, and review details on home upgrades, including the Trust's Smart Energy facilities.

Mrs. McDonald Radcliffe added that mortgage-readiness checks were available on the spot, allowing attendees to gauge their eligibility before speaking with banks and other lenders present at the expo.

"They will not just only get information but they will actually know where to go next with their… planning to buy. Sometimes you don't have the time to go to five different places, but today you come, the five different places are here. So, you say, 'Okay, I need this, then I go do that'," Mrs. McDonald Radcliffe outlined.

Seven financial institutions took part in the St. James edition, together with smart energy firms and other companies linked to the housing sector, putting loan products and related services within reach of attendees.

Mrs. McDonald Radcliffe said the NHT continues to pursue its goal of expanding homeownership across Jamaica through programmes such as the Home It Expo.

"It's always a pleasure for us to do this because of the impact we know it has on people who attend. To get closer to home is what keeps us going, and so we're just happy to serve everyone that comes through today," she said.

The programme included sessions on purchasing property, constructing a home, and energy-efficient design. A KidZone was set up for children, while live performances ran through the day, giving the gathering a family-oriented feel.

The Montego Bay staging was the third straight year the NHT has brought the Home It Expo to western Jamaica. The next edition is set for Kingston.