For the week

of July 24-30

Real-estate classes, seminars and events

Buying and selling

Tue Get practical information about buying or selling a home, including how to find an agent, what is affordable, what to look for, how much to offer, kinds of loans and lenders; registration required. 6-9 p.m., South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle; $39 (206-764-5339 or www.southseattle.edu)

Home-buying strategies

Sat Understand the home-buying process from preapproval to move-in day, learn about negotiation and maximizing your home's value, find out more on loan programs, below-market interest-rate options and down-payment assistance information, registration required. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., HomeStreet Bank, 130 Andover Park E., Suite 101, Tukwila; free (206-769-8175)

Seattle Street of Dreams

Through Aug 14 Seattle Street of Dreams is the nation's largest attended one-site luxury home and garden tour, where the latest trends in building, interior design, landscaping, technology and architectural ideas are all on one street. Each show home displays the products and services of selected Puget Sound-area luxury-home builders, interior designers, architects, craftspeople and landscapers. Each home and its furnishings are for sale during the show, which raises funds for local charities. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Woodinville High School (parking lot), 19819 136th Ave. N.E., Woodinville; $14.50-$17.50 (206-654-HOME or www.seattlestreetofdreams.com)

Plan Ahead

Aug 3 Home-buying seminar on what to know before buying a house; learn the difference between 100 percent financing and 80/20 programs, discuss the pros and cons of various loan programs, registration required. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Phinney Neighborhood Center (Room 6), 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; free (425-576-3767)

Continuing

Nonprofit assistance

ACORN Housing — Nonprofit homebuyer education and loan counseling; free home-buyer-counseling services. $20 for credit reports (206-243-4663)

Community Home Ownership Center — Nonprofit information and referral service for low- and moderate-income first-time home buyers; refers clients to classes sponsored by Washington State Housing Finance Commission. free (800-317-2918)

HomeSight — Nonprofit group offers credit counseling. $20 includes credit report. Financial series includes information on predatory lending and mortgages. $40 ( 206-723-4355)

International District Housing Alliance — Nonprofit home ownership education and counseling services in Vietnamese, Cambodian, Tagalog and various Chinese dialects. free (206-623-0122)

Washington Affordable Housing — Weekly home-buying seminar endorsed by Washington Education Association and taught by Washington State Housing Finance commission-trained instructors, presented by RE/MAX Eastside Brokers and RE/MAX Metro. free (800-792-6005)

Washington Community Housing Network — Free home-buyer seminar that includes workbook, credit report, learn 10 buyer mistakes to avoid, free counseling, Saturday classes in Seattle and Eastside. (425-830-4620)

Real-estate classes

and seminars

Homebuyer seminar — Two-part seminar qualifies home buyers for below-market interest rates; classes include information on buying with no down payment, no closing costs and reasonable interest rates; advance registration requested. Presented by instructors from Windermere Real Estate. 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Windermere Real Estate, 200 112th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, free (425-450-2621)

Investments — Real-estate investing for the new and small investor: Learn the five profit centers of real estate, 100 percent financing techniques and four different wealth-accumulation strategies, see the difference between residential and commercial investments, classes in public library once a month, presented by investor and former CPA, Tom Harmer from Aatrix Mortgage and Elodie Morse from RE/MAX, preregistration required. free (425-482-9115)

Investments — In this "no-fluff" class, discover how to do the financial due diligence necessary to make your real-estate investment a profitable one. Learn the basics of financial analysis, taxation and planning from a financial analyst, presented by TEAM REBA, registration required. 6:30 p.m. $15 (206-706-6563 or www.teamreba.com/events.htm)

Investments — Learn how to purchase investment property with zero down; property types include single-family and two- to four-unit properties, presented by MoneytoLend. 7 p.m., Tuesdays, 13 Central Way, Kirkland, free (425-417-3863)

Fire Your Landlord — Two-part seminar that qualifies first-time homebuyers for below-market interest rates, classes include information on state bond and down-payment programs including USDA, FHA, VA, interest-only, finding reasonable interest rates and terms, sponsored by United Guarantee Insurance, registration required. 6:45-9:15 p.m., Tuesdays, CityBank Home Loan Center, 11832 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, free (425-885-2634)

Homebuyer seminar — Learn how to buy your home with no down payment, no closing costs and below-market interest rates; learn the best negotiation strategies in this two-part seminar, 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Countrywide Mortgage, 320 108th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, free (425-681-4554)

Homebuyers — Learn strategies, credit issues and zero-down programs; presented by HomeStone Mortgage; registration requested. 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Bellevue Hilton Hotel, 100 112th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, free (206-795-3505)

Homebuyers — Two-part seminar on topics including credit reports, loan programs, Washington state housing and what is required to buy housing; presented by Eagle Home Mortgage; registration requested. 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. Saturdays, 10510 N.E. Northup Way, Kirkland, free (425-822-6733)

Investment — Learn about the 1031 tax exchange and exchange property without paying taxes; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Wilson Realty Exchange; registration requested. 16910 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle, free (Pre-register: 206-216-3537)

Home sellers — Learn how to market homes and get them into shape to sell, Windermere Real Estate; registration requested. 7 p.m. Thursdays, noon Saturdays, 200 112th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, free (425-450-2622)

Real Estate submissions must be received at least three weeks before publication and all home-buyers classes must be taught by instructors trained by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. E-mail homecalendar@seattletimes.com, fax 206-464-2239 or mail to Christopher Taylor, Real Estate Calendar, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.