Buying your first home is not easy, especially with rising housing costs and interest rates. The good news is that a homebuyer education will help you with resources and tools toward achieving your housing and financial goals. Purchasing a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make. CDP’s homebuyer education includes FTHB (First Time Home Buyer) workshops and Individual Counseling. We are here to help you get started and closer to your goal of one day owning a home.
Participating in our FTHB workshops can help take some of the mystery and stress out of the home buying process, as well as potentially save you time and money. Our workshops provide information on budgeting, looking for, selecting, and purchasing a home, and local resources that may be available to buyers. The program is being offered in a virtual format beginning in October 2023 to May 2024. Each virtual workshop is four classes with each class running from 6:15 pm – 8:30 pm for a total of 8 hours. We also be offering three in-person Group Meetings for participants of the self-paced Framework online course in November 2023, February 2024 and April 2024. Each session runs from 6 pm – 7 pm.
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.
The Homebuyer Education Course 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. The curriculum was developed by CHAPA and an adapter of the national Industry Standards (NIS) for Homebuyer Education and Counseling.
The course covers: 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. Participants must complete all course requirements listed below to receive an electronic Certificate of Completion. Certificates are active for two years. The course is open to any interested individual or household (2 people).
Course requirements
Pay the program fee of $50 for individuals and $75 for households.
Have access to a computer with internet, camera and microphone.
Pre-register for a Group Meeting before starting the online modules.
Framework participants must complete all modules and achieve a final score of 80% or higher.
Attend and participate in Group Meeting.
When all requirements have been fulfilled, each graduate will be emailed a Certificate of Completion that is valid for two years.
For a full schedule of upcoming First Time Home Buyer workshops please contact Pelinda Deegan, Housing Advocacy Program Manager at pelinda@capecdp.org.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Community Development Partnership (CDP) leads the Lower Cape in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work, and thrive year-round in the eight outermost towns of Cape Cod. To accomplish its mission, the CDP promotes, develops, and manages affordable housing; nurtures the launch and growth of small businesses; and facilitates collaboration with business, nonprofit, and government partners.
Since launching in 1996, the CDP has passed more than 300 pro-housing initiatives and secured $50 million in funds for affordable housing, impacting thousands of Lower Cape year-round residents. The CDP’s business and credit programs have benefitted over 2,800 small businesses, providing technical assistance and over $4 million in loan capital during the past 30 years.