Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. (AHSTI) is proud to be the recipient of a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The purpose of the $38,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation is to assist homeowners with estate planning services.
“This is a significant achievement for Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc.,” says Robert Calvillo, Executive Director for AHSTI. “This grant will enable AHSTI to further its mission of supporting and empowering homeowners by addressing a crucial aspect of wealth and familial well-being.”
AHSTI, as a one-stop shop for customers throughout the entire home purchase process, is in a unique position to observe the long-term consequences of homeowners not having a proper estate plan in place for themselves and their families. The absence of an estate plan can lead to various challenges and issues, and AHSTI can play a valuable role in educating homeowners about the importance of estate planning.
Without a will or other estate planning documents, the distribution of assets, such as their home, will likely go through an extended and complicated probate process. These probates can be time-consuming and costly, delaying the transfer of assets to heirs and beneficiaries. “Probate issues are far too common in South Texas. By assisting AHSTI families with estate planning, we are also helping future generations of their families, as well as preventing title issues from arising in county deed records and in future real estate transactions. The benefits of this program will be incredibly far-reaching,” said Marissa Carranza Hernandez, General Counsel for AHSTI.
Through this first-time grant by the Texas Bar Foundation, AHSTI can emphasize the importance of having a comprehensive plan in place. This involves partnering with estate planning professionals, offering educational resources, and eventually even integrating estate planning services into our suite of offerings to ensure that homeowners are better prepared for their long-term financial and familial well-being. AHSTI estimates that 20 homeowners will be assisted this year through this grant alone.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation.
