Brooklyn's Progress
February/March 2008

BY JILL D’AMICO

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Member Trisha Ocona is not allowing sub-prime lending to run rampant on her watch.

While reports show that Brooklyn is hit disproportionately hard by predatory lenders and facing housing auctions some of the highest rates in New York City, Ms. Ocona has armed herself with the facts and is working hard to get people back on their feet.

A partner at Anglestone Inc, a commercial real estate investment firm, Ms. Ocona knows the impact the market has on the economy.

“Real estate is the number one asset throughout the nation,” she said. “However, as a real estate professional, I have come to realize the fierce and challenging obstacles to those who lack real estate knowledge.”

The growing tide of foreclosures is set to reach farther than real estate – if the crisis grows deeper, the affects will be felt in all sectors of Brooklyn.

Determined to change that, she has been working with community organizations and their leaders, elected officials and residents alike, organizing foreclosure assistance, prevention, and awareness programs.

She wants to establish an outreach task force “of dedicated individuals who are determined to achieve our mission of preserving Brooklyn’s home ownership. I also plan to further attribute to the empowerment and advancement of Brooklyn’s community residents through ongoing housing education,” something that will enable people to know before they buy.

Ms. Ocona is a principle broker of the real estate brokerage firm NYCRE Group LLC and is active in numerous groups outside the Chamber, including the Brooklyn Borough President’s Women Legislative Leadership Initiative Committee, the African American Real Estate Professionals of New York (AAREPNY), the Rainbow PUSH Coalition housing committee, and numerous local, state and national real estate associations. In her spare time she serves as president of the East 58th Street United Block Association and on the Housing, Block Association, and Land Use/Zoning committees of Brooklyn’s Community Board 17. She was also recently accepted into We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship Leadership Training Program. 

The driving force for all this activity is simple – she has seen what is happening to Brooklyn’s communities. Not every corner of Brooklyn sees the renaissance that others do, and when residents suffer, it has a ripple affect throughout the neighborhood – businesses suffer when neighborhoods decline as well. She expects to see a slowing in the retail market, leading to a decline in sales revenue as consumer confidence drops and people hold on to their money.

Ms. Ocona points out that there are still a few more waves of adjustable mortgages that have yet to skyrocket, and anticipates the situation to get worse before it gets better. That is why she has hit the ground running with community outreach and programs to help. She is also in touch with prime bank lenders to hammer out deals for people to restructure mortgages before they lose their homes.

She advises people who find themselves over their heads with a bad mortgage to call their lender right away and ask them what programs that have available to help their situation, such as possibly restructuring their loan, and to seek education about their situation.

”There are numerous nationally known non-profits that offer free education, advice and assistance,” she advised.

Those looking to invest in real estate now should get educated first, and be prepared to hold on for the long haul. 

For more information, contact Trisha Nicole Ocona at Anglestone Inc., (718) 701-4342 or e-mail her at to@trishaocona.com.