This fall the Community Development Partnership is relaunching its Home Ownership Education Program.
The cornerstone of this program is the First Time Home Buyer Workshop, which is specifically designed for individuals or families looking to purchase their first home.
The course covers topics important during the pre-purchasing process, and for the long-term financial stability of homeowners. These include credit health and budgeting; mortgage process and options; finding the right home and making an offer; appraisals; home inspection; legal procedures and protections; insurance protection; home energy audits and savings; ongoing homeownership.
Starting in October the CDP will offer in-person and virtual First Time Home Buyer Education Workshops:
- In-person workshops will be offered in October 2023, December 2023, and May 2024. Each workshop consists of three classes with each class running from 6 to 9 p.m. for a total of nine hours. The dates for the October workshop are Thursday, Oct. 19, Tuesday, Oct. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 26.
- Virtual workshops will be offered in January and March of 2024. Each virtual workshop consists of four classes running from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. for a total of eight hours.
All in-person sessions will take place at the Lower Cape TV Studio at 5 Namskaket Road, Orleans.
Each option will cover the same course material, and certificates of completion are valid for two years after the completion date. The cost is $50 for individuals and $75 for households.
Additionally, the CDP will offer an online self-paced First Time Home Buyer course starting in November. The online self-paced course is available to those who cannot attend an in-person or virtual First Time Home Buyer Workshop. To complete the online course, participants must complete all online modules and attend one virtual group meeting. The cost for the online self- paced course is $100 per household.
The CDP has received the Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative’s “Seal of Approval” from the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). CHAPA certification is essential for potential first-time homebuyers to access affordable mortgage products such as those offered by MassHousing, Massachusetts Housing Partnership (“ONE” program), other municipal and government programs and some commercial lenders, and down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
In addition to the First-Time Home Buyer education courses, the CDP will also offer free homeowner counseling with our certified Homeownership Education Counselor. One-hour sessions are available to cover credit repair, budgeting, and mortgage readiness.
For a full schedule of upcoming First Time Home Buyer workshops visit:
https://capecdp.org/upcoming-events or contact Pelinda Deegan, Housing Advocacy Program Manager at pelinda@capecdp.org.
