The 2024 Thrive Home Buying Forum has concluded!
Harvard FCU welcomed a panel of home buying experts to speak on the ins and outs of buying a home.
Schedule & Registration
Here’s the schedule! Register for each of the four sessions below.
The 2024 Home Buying Forum is presented by Thrive! Thrive is Harvard FCU’s personal finance brand, complete with everything you need along your financial journey. From workshops to weekly blogs, get ready to Thrive with Harvard FCU.
What You’ll Learn
Day 1: Market Trends with Real Estate Agent and Appraiser
Learn where the market is currently and where it may be headed based on the insights of Dino Confalone, Realtor, and Troy Buscemi, appraiser.
Day 2: Tips from an Attorney and a Home Inspector
Hear tips from attorney Sarah A. Ricciardelli and home inspector Ken Ray of Kensa Inspections on the ins and outs of buying your perfect home.
Day 3: Home Buying Process
Harvard FCU Mortgage Loan Originators, Daisy Familia and Ryan Duckless, will walk you through the steps to search for and finance your home.
Day 4: Affordable Path to Home Ownership
Harvard FCU Mortgage Loan Originators Sharon Cummings and Helen Laskaris will discuss financing options available for low to moderate income buyers. We also will hear from City of Cambridge representative, Anna Dolmatch, about the Affordable Housing Programs in Cambridge.
To access the links mentioned throughout the series, click here!
Meet the Presenters!
With twenty-three years of experience as a residential real estate appraiser, and as a sales agent on The Dino Confalone Team at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, Troy’s expertise in investment strategies, market research, and compliance has been instrumental in delivering services on which clients can depend.
Dino Confalone leverages his three decades of real estate and corporate management experience to make our real estate community better. A graduate of Suffolk University and the recipient of multiple industry awards, his professionalism and moral compass set him apart.
Ken Ray, Kensa Home Inspections
Combining his two skillsets of IT and non-profit work led Ken Ray to a career in home inspections, where he is able to use a systematic approach in serving people during their journey to find a new home. Having completed over 1,300 inspections, Ken is motivated by helping people make the right decision during a major milestone.
Sarah Ricciardelli, Ricciardelli & Small, LLC
Sarah Ricciardelli is a founding member of Ricciardelli & Small, LLC which has now been in business for over 25 years. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and provides award-winning service on both residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Anna Dolmatch, Cambridge Community Development Department
Anna Dolmatch is the Senior Manager for Homeownership for the City of Cambridge. She has been with the City for more than seventeen years overseeing a variety of affordable homeownership programs and working on affordable housing policy and development.
Daisy Familia, Senior Mortgage Loan Originator
For over two decades, Daisy Familia has been assisting members within the Credit Union industry in achieving their financial dreams. As a Senior Mortgage Loan Originator for the Harvard Federal Credit Union, Daisy is committed to empowering her clients with the knowledge they need to make confident decisions when funding their financial goals. With her vast 20+ years of experience, Daisy Familia is a trusted expert in the mortgage industry who can guide you through the complex world of mortgage loans and make your financial dreams a reality.
Ryan Duckless, Mortgage Loan Originator
Ryan Duckless has been an employee of Harvard FCU for the past 8 years dedicated to providing excellent service to our members. In 2020, Ryan joined Harvard FCU’s mortgage department where he has continued to provide this excellent service to the members of the Harvard community as they achieve home ownership. He enjoys taking the time to educate and work with his members closely to make the mortgage process and route to becoming a home owner seamless.
With 33 years of experience in the credit union industry and over 15 years in the mortgage area, Sharon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Her dedication to providing top-notch service and deep understanding of the mortgage loan process has earned her a reputation as a trusted and reliable professional.
Helen Laskaris has been guiding homebuyers at Harvard FCU since 2016, assisting over 300 members in the journey to homeownership. Helen has a background in credit review and skill in qualifying members successfully. She firmly believes that homeownership is a key part of wealth creation and enjoys helping people to determine if the time is right to consider purchasing a home given all factors in a specific person’s life.