Contact: Joan Messina (217) 403-6248

Brian Bend (815) 844-6127 ext. 4

**Watseka Family Part of Homeownership Month Celebration**

**Watseka, Ill., June 2, 2008** -- Representatives from U.S. Department
of Agriculture Rural Development kicked off the observance of June 2008
as National Homeownership Month by stopping at the home of Watseka
resident Sherry Bruner. Bruner and her two children lived in a trailer
until the January flood waters lifted the trailer off its foundation and
bent the frame when the trailer settled back on the foundation.

Bruner and her two children moved into their new home on Fourth Street
on May 19 thanks to Rural Development financing set aside for flood
victims.

The federal agency offers home loan programs for homebuyers in
communities which typically have less than 20,000 population and are in
non-metro areas. The agency is taking the opportunity this month to let
Illinois residents know that buying a home may not be out of reach.

"This is a great time for people who live in rural areas to buy their
first home or upgrade to a new home," said Rural Development Housing
Director Barry Ramsey. "Our home loan programs make buying a home very
affordable because they require no down-payment and no monthly mortgage
insurance payments. Homebuyers don't have to have been affected by the
flood to qualify."

"I met with Sherry on Feb. 14 about a repair loan for her trailer," said
Brian Bend, an Area Specialist with Rural Development in the Pontiac
office. "We eventually agreed that it would not be cost effective to
repair her home. I suggested she consider a home outside the flood
plain."

Bruner found a home in her price range that she liked. About four weeks
after she made an offer, she closed on her home. "After living with
family since January, she and her children Dakota and Taylor were very
excited to move into their own home," Bend said.

According to Bend, the agency's guarantee program is easy to use.
Homebuyers with moderate incomes work with local lenders of their
choice. The lender makes the credit decision, but Rural Development does
not have a minimum credit score or limit the price of the house.
Homebuyers work with the lender's forms. Rural Development turns around
a lender's request for a guarantee commitment within 48 hours. Using the
program causes no delay in closing the purchase price.

-more-

"We're inviting local homeowners and first time homebuyers to check with
a local lender about the cost of buying a home with a Rural Development
guarantee," said Ramsey. "Homebuyers will be surprised at how affordable
their monthly payment can be when there's no down payment, no mortgage
insurance premiums, competitive fixed rate interest, and a 30 year
term."

Low cost financing is also available directly from Rural Development to
families and individuals with lower incomes to ensure they can buy,
build or improve a safe home. Rural Development's direct loans include a
payment subsidy, so they do have a maximum purchases price. However,
these limits are generous, ranging from \$142,000 up to \$200,000
depending on the county.

More than 4,000 Illinois homebuyers used the agency's funding to build,
buy and repair their homes last year. More information on Rural
Development home loan programs is available by calling the Pontiac
office at (815) 844-6127 ext. 4 or by visiting their website at
[www.rurdev.usda.gov/il/housing.htm](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/il/housing.htm).

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Caption: Federal representatives from USDA Rural Development presented a
housewarming present to Sherry Bruner's family Monday. Bruner used Rural
Development financing to buy a home after flood waters damaged her
trailer. In the first row are Sherry, Dakota and Taylor Bruner, and
Bruner's broker Della Miller with Donna Varboncoeur Realty. Rural
Development officials in the second row are Housing Director Barry
Ramsey, Housing Specialist Brian Bend from Pontiac, and Area Director
Susan Petrea.