Homeownership

The homeownership program has educated hundreds of people each year on the availability of a number of mortgage products and grants that allow home purchase with little or no money down.  Through our services, people with no thought of ever having the opportunity to own a home, have fulfilled the American dream of home ownership.

Kansas Homeownership Partnerships

Kansas Home Buyer Opportunities is continually involved in partnerships on loan programs, products with lenders, cities and locally owned businesses.  Current partnerships include TOTO II (Topeka Opportunity to Own), Rural First Time Homebuyer Program, Rural Development, City of Emporia, and in Lawrence, Kansas, HOOT (Homeowners Out Of Tenants).  Additional Homeownership programs are also available in our service area.

One-on-One Counseling

A qualified housing counselor will help you evaluate your credit, set up a budget, and discuss financing options and housing grant opportunities.  Together, you will prepare a plan for accomplishing your goals.  The session requires you to prepare in advance.  Counseling consists of meeting in person or over the telephone one-on-one with a counselor. The counselor will focus on the same subjects as in a workshop: credit readiness, affordability, down payment, working with a lender, working with a realtor, selecting a home, offers and closings, and home maintenance.

By the end of the counsel, you'll be prepared to pursue home ownership and feel more confident about the entire home buying process. The session takes an average of 1 1/2 hours and includes a credit report analysis and a homebuyer education certificate at completion.  This certificate is necessary to access many of the financial assistance programs. 

Homebuyer Workshops

The four-hour workshop provides education and encourages discussions on how to purchase a home.  Certificates are awarded at the completion of the workshop for various mortgage loan assisted grants.  Qualified instructors cover issues on budgeting, insurance, credit, how to avoid loan scams known as "predatory lending" and loan options.  Information on inspecting and the maintenance of property, before and after buying, is also discussed.

Mortgage Default and Foreclosure Prevention

Budgeting and the management of household expenses are core elements of our classes and counsels.  Housing and Credit Counseling Inc also has counselors available to assist in the event problems develop.  Mortgage default counseling is handled by our credit counselors.

Home Maintenance

Topeka has a series of three workshops totaling nine hours dedicated to teaching basic upkeep and repair  projects that homeowners can do themselves.  The workshop series cover lawn maintenance, plumbing, electricity and home decorating. Other resources are available at local libraries, lumber yards, hardware stores, and on the internet.  Counselors and trainers also address how to access other maintenance.