Notice
Please note that classes will be an on-line version until further notice. You will receive instruction upon registration. Registration must be made by noon the Monday before the class. When registering, you must provide the name of each person who will be taking the class. To register, please e-mail homebuyerclass@howardcountymd.gov
HUD Approved Monthly Homebuyer Education Workshop
The Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) has designed an initiative to promote successful homeownership in Howard County, Maryland. Educational workshops and one-on-one counseling will be offered on a monthly basis to households purchasing a home in Howard County, and/or participating in DHCD's homeownership programs, including, but not limited to, the Settlement Downpayment Loan Program (SDLP) and Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program. The HUD-approved workshop curriculum is derived from guidelines established by the National Industry Standards for Homeownership and Counseling. Individuals and families interested in purchasing a home in Howard County are invited to attend. To meet HUD requirements, the classes will consist of a 6 hour group workshop and 2 hours of one-on-one counseling for a total of 8 hours. The group workshops will be held one Saturday each month. The 2 hour one-on-one counseling sessions will be scheduled with the credit agency after attending one of the Saturday classes. Registration is required to attend a workshop. Each person attending must be registered.
The monthly 6-hour homebuyer education workshop will be presented at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. Please use the main entrance, where the Security Guard will direct you to the classroom. The workshop’s curriculum focuses on the following five areas: assessing home readiness, budgeting and credit usage, financing a home, selecting a house, and maintaining a home and post-purchase finances.
DUE TO COVID-19 IN PERSON CLASSES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED - WE WILL UPDATE AS NECESSARY
Interested participants can register by e-mail using this link: homebuyerclass@howardcountymd.gov
One-on-One Counseling Required for Workshop Attendees
All Homebuyer Education Workshop Attendees are required to complete a 2-hour, one-on-one counseling session with a HUD-approved credit counselor. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion after they attend both the workshop and receive one-on-one counseling. Appointments are available over the phone or in-person, at a time convenient for the attendee. During the session, the counselors will assess each individual’s financial situation, set up a budget, and develop personalized action plans for long- and short-term financial goals, including homeownership and credit improvement.
Completion of the workshop course, including the one-on-one counseling session, complies with the counseling requirements for the Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) and the Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program.
Certificates are issued after completion of the homebuyer workshop and the consultation. Please note that Howard County’s certificate is not valid in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County or Baltimore City. If you are planning on purchasing in one of those counties, please access the Maryland Mortgage Program website at www.mmp.maryland.gov to locate the appropriate counseling agency.