DAYTONA BEACH ― A free event in observance of National Fair Housing Month will be held this Saturday to help those interested in buying a home and/or improving their financial situation.

The 2023 Housing Fair & Financial Wellness Clinic will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Allen Chapel AME Church at 580 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach.

A wide range of experts ― including HUD counselors, Realtors, lenders, insurance agents, home inspectors and title agents ― will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice.

"There will be vendors there to speak about every step of the process (of buying a home)," said Lydia Gregg, assistant director and HUD counselor with the nonprofit Mid-Florida Housing Partnership Inc.

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What's 'Fair Housing Month'?

The event is held each April to commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed 55 years ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson to make discrimination in housing transactions unlawful. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color national origin, religion, sex, disability, and family status.

Why should I attend this year's Housing Fair?

"You could be a buyer, a renter or a homeowner. Everyone should come out to this," said Gregg.

The fair will include financial literacy workshops, free credit reports, and information regarding new mortgage loan products, down-payment assistance programs and new affordable housing initiatives.

Attendees can also tour a modular "tiny" home made out of a converted shipping container, which could be a suitable affordable option for becoming a homeowner to some.

Because home prices are continuing to climb, "affordability is still a major concern," said Lucy Stewart Desmore, a Realtor with Realty Pros Assured. Desmore serves on the organizing committee for this year's housing fair.

One of the purposes for the fair "is to educate first-time buyers on what they need to do to purchase a home," said Debora Crane, a mortgage loan officer with Loan Yap Mortgage LLC, who also serves on the organizing committee.

Counselors can help attendees review their options and come up with "action plans to get you to your goals, whether (it's to) buy a home or keep you in your home," said Gregg.

Who's putting on the Housing Fair in Daytona Beach?

This year's event is being hosted by Mid-Florida Housing Partnership and Allen Daytona Development Inc. Sponsors include the City of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Volusia County, KW Heritage Keller Williams Realty, 1st Florida Realty, Realty Pros Assured, Home One Realty, Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark, Professional Title Agency, Southern Title, Loan Yap, Fifth Third Bank and Truist Bank.

For more information, call 386-274-4441 extension 304 or send an email to lydia.gregg@mfhp.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona housing fair can help first-time buyers despite rising prices