Your journey to homeownership starts right here! Whether you’ve been referred for pre-purchase or post-purchase counseling by your lender, are actively planning for homeownership, or just want to increase your home-purchase readiness, CDCU is excited to be your partner and advocate to help you achieve your housing goals.
Preparing for homeownership
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. As a nonprofit housing counseling provider, we will help provide you with a pathway to avoid the most common pitfalls for today’s home buyer. Many of the services we offer may save you thousands of dollars throughout the course of your home loan.
Completing home buyer education increases your chances for successful homeownership. Those that complete home buyer education are 33% less likely to fall delinquent within the first two years of obtaining their mortgage.
Home buyer education will help you:
- Navigate the home purchase process
- Make empowered decisions about buying a home
- Avoid common home purchase pitfalls
- Learn about different lending products and programs available for first-time home buyers
- Understand contracts and disclosures that you will sign during your home purchase
We offer an online class for $75, offered in both English and Spanish. Sign up here: Framework Homebuying Class.
If you want more guidance or feel like homeownership is out of reach for you and aren't sure where to start, we recommend our new program, the HomeStart Series.
HomeStart Series
HomeStart Series is a hands-on program of workshops and one-on-one housing counseling designed to prepare participants for successful first-time homeownership. Classes are expected to begin on February 11.
The program is ideal for individuals and families who want to purchase their first home within the next year but aren’t sure where to start, particularly households earning 60–100% of AMI who can save even a small amount each month and are looking to put down permanent roots in their community.
The HomeStart Series combines personalized housing counseling, expert-led workshops and saving incentives to guide participants through the homebuying process. Eligible participants may qualify for a 3:1 matched savings opportunity, allowing them to save up to $2,500 and receive up to $7,500 in matching funds from CDCU, for a total of $10,000 toward their first home. Matched funds must be used toward the purchase of a first home within one year of completing the program, and participants always retain access to their personal savings, even if they do not complete a home purchase. Classes are taught by CDCU HUD-Certified Housing Counselors and industry experts.
- February 11, 6:00pm: Preparing for Homeownership
- Budgeting, credit, and savings basics
- February 25, 6:00pm: Working with a Lender & Realtor
- The homebuying process from perapproval to closing
- March 4, 6:00pm: Alternative Financing & Affordability
- Down payment assistance, community land trusts, and other financing options
- March 11, 6:00pm: Post-Purchase: Maintaining Your Home
- Repairs, payments, and refinancing basics
Fill out the form below if you're interested in learning more!
Before or after taking the Home Buyer Education class, you also can request a FREE 1-on-1 coaching session with a CDCU counselor to further discuss your home purchase goals. This is usually more beneficial after completing the online education class, but is flexible depending on your needs. Simply selection this option in the simple form below and one of our coaches will be in touch to schedule an appointment.
Se habla español, se fala Português; interpretation services are available upon request.