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First-Time Homebuyer Program

Work with a HUD-certified housing counselor and prepare to buy a home.

Purchasing a home for the first time is exciting but it can also be overwhelming. Taking part in the HUD-approved First-Time Homebuyer Program offered by Consolidated Credit is a highly effective and inexpensive way to educate yourself about one of the most significant financial and emotional purchases you will ever make. If you have questions or would like to schedule a free housing counseling session with a HUD-certified housing counselor, please send us an email at [email protected] or call us at Call Consolidated Credit today at 1-800-435-2261 to speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor.

What does the program do for me?

The first-time homebuyer program prepares you for the process of buying a home as well as for the responsibilities of being a homeowner. It consists of three parts:

  1. Free first-time homebuyer orientation
  2. Virtual 8-hour first-time homebuyer workshop
  3. Free one-on-one housing counseling with a HUD-certified housing counselor

Among the many topics covered in the orientation, at the virtual workshop, you will learn about obtaining financing, available mortgage and down payment assistance programs, selecting a real estate agent, homeowners’ insurance, home inspections, fair housing protections, predatory lending, and more.

Interested? Please register to attend our next first-time homebuyers’ orientation.

 

How can I be part of the first-time homebuyer orientation?

Consolidated Credit hosts a live in-person workshop one Saturday per month at our Plantation, Consolidated Credit hosts monthly virtual first-time homebuyer orientations where you will learn from the experts, the steps to buy a home.  Here are our upcoming orientations:

online homebuyer orientation
online homebuyer orientation

How much does the virtual class cost?

The virtual orientation is FREE, however, if you need to complete the online homebuyer class, it costs $99 for the primary borrower and $49 for co-borrower – a great value for a thorough home buyer education course that you can take at your own pace.

online homebuyer course
Homebuyer Education Course

What is the next step after I take the online homebuyer course?

After you take the online homebuyer course, you must complete at least one free housing counseling session with one of our HUD-certified Housing Counselors before requesting your Certificate of Completion. The counseling session can be done via zoom or over the telephone, and it’s a great time to ask questions.

Before meeting with your counselor, you will need to provide some financial documents and approve a credit report pull (rest assured, our credit inquiry is a “soft pull” and will not affect your credit score). Your counselor will use the information you provide to determine your “mortgage-readiness” and may also identify any obstacles you will need to work on before applying for a mortgage. The counselor will help you create a customized Action Plan and follow up periodically to check on your progress.

Why is housing counseling important? Are there fees?

Think of your housing counselor as your coach during the home buying process. Your counselor’s goal is to educate and prepare you for sustainable homeownership and help reduce the chance of you defaulting on your mortgage. In fact, studies have shown that first-time homebuyers who received HUD-approved housing counseling were up to 65 percent less likely to end up in foreclosure.

Housing counseling services are completely FREE. The credit report fee is currently $26.41 and the certificate fee is $45.

Why do I need a Certificate of Completion?

The Homebuyer Education Certificate of Completion is a prerequisite for many down-payment assistance programs as well as some mortgage programs. These programs can significantly lower your required down payment or closing costs and potentially save you thousands of dollars.

You may request your Certificate of Completion at any time after completing a counseling session, but we recommend waiting until you are mortgage-ready as the certificate expires one year from the date it is issued.

See how else Consolidated Credit can help you

The Homebuyer Education section has even more resources for homebuyers. You can also call 1-800-435-2261 to speak with one of Consolidated Credit’s HUD-certified housing counselors at no charge.

Homebuyer Education and Counseling

Consolidated Credit is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide housing counseling services. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or you simply want to get more information to make sure you understand how the home buying process works, we can help.

Call Consolidated Credit today at 1-800-435-2261 to speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor or register to attend our next first-time homebuyers’ orientation.