STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — SAW Housing’s Lunch & Learn community conversations return this fall with a new format.

The series will launch with The Housing Hustle from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Staunton Innovation Hub located at 11 N Central Ave, Staunton, VA 24401 on Thursday, October 9th.

According to a release, the event will feature real estate professionals and local lenders, who will help dispel myths, highlight available resources, and show what is possible—even in a housing market that can feel impossible.

“Educational events like the Housing Hustle help bridge the gap between curiosity and confidence,” said realtor Juaquadia Howard, one of the presenters. “So many people want to buy a home, but don’t always know where to start. My hope is that everyone leaves feeling encouraged, informed and one step closer to making home ownership a reality.”

The Housing Hustle includes a panel and conversation lunch designed to give local residents tips for moving from renting to owning.

“Buying a home can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially for first-time buyers,” said Anna Leavitt, director of Community Action Partnership Staunton Augusta Waynesboro (CAPSAW). “There’s often a lot of confusion, outdated information, and fear surrounding the process. By starting with this topic, we want to take the mystery out of homebuying and given people access to real, current and practical information straight from professionals in our community.”

Joining Howard as the local network of presenters is home inspector Steve Sutton, real estate agent Beverly Sterner, leasing manager and real estate agent Eric Fletcher and loan officers JoDee Lambert, Michelle Nuckols, Sam Sandoval and Vickie Painter.

“This session sets the tone for the yearlong series of outreach events,” Leavitt said, “grounding it in useful, accessible knowledge that helps neighbors feel more confident about their housing options.”

This year’s Lunch & Learns will also be connected to the SAW HOUSING Stock Working Group’s new Solution Series, a set of informational sessions on creative housing techniques.