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Health & Fitness

CCCS of MD & DE Offers New Online Homeownership Course

Consumers who receive effective housing education are less likely to default on their mortgages once they own homes. CCCS of MD & DE now offers an online course to help people make informed decisions and avoid pitfalls during purchase and beyond.

With housing prices and interest rates going up, thousands of consumers hope to purchase a home this fall.  For most this will be the largest and most complex investment they ever make.  National nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware (CCCS) believes these buyers will be better prepared to navigate the purchase process and the responsibilities of homeownership if they obtain competent housing education and counseling before locking into a home. To meet this need, CCCS now offers an On-line Homebuyer Pre-Purchase Certificate program.

CCCS Director of Housing Counseling Services Tom Simonton says the agency decided to provide this on-line homebuyer course so clients have a convenient way to gain pre-purchase education and certificates.  “We are increasingly comfortable with web-based services.  For example, I use my computer to do most of my banking now.  Making the program available on-line allows clients to access it at any time of the day or night.  It also lets them complete the course work on a schedule that fits their lifestyle. If they run into questions, they can still talk directly with one of our housing counselors.”

The CCCS On-line Homebuyer Pre-purchase Certificate program is based on the NeighborWorks America “Realizing the American Dream” curriculum and meets the National Industry Standards for homebuyer education.  It includes easy-to-understand content, animated videos, and unit quizzes that help learners evaluate when they have mastered necessary concepts.  The program, which takes approximately eight hours to complete, is self-paced. Once registered, clients can clock out and return to a session at any time.

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Simonton says, “The course provides information to help clients make better informed pre-purchase decisions and avoid costly pitfalls before and after they take ownership.”   Through the course, homebuyers learn:

  • Barriers that may affect their ability to purchase a home
  • How much home they can afford to buy
  • How to budget and save for the purchase
  • How to obtain and review their credit reports and credit scores
  • How to identify mortgage options that are right one for them
  • How the loan, negotiation, and settlement processes work
  • How to locate homes that meet their needs
  • Their rights and responsibilities as homebuyers and owners

Upon completion, learners can print a certificate to document their efforts and the knowledge they’ve acquired in case they hope to apply for down payment assistance grants or other loan concessions. They also are able to speak with a certified CCCS housing counselor. 

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It costs $75 to register for the CCCS On-line Homebuyer Pre-Purchase Certificate Program.  Couples must pay for two courses if both are required to receive a certificate.  The course is located on CCCS’s website (www.cccs-inc.org).  Just click the Housing Counseling listing.  The program link is the first service located on the site Housing page.  

Simonton concludes, “The new online homebuyer program will help CCCS reach clients across the nation.  Our goal is to give them the information and resources they need to succeed.” 

On-site CCCS homeownership workshops are still available in Maryland and Delaware.  Call 1-866-731-8486 or visit the website to learn more.

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Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc. (CCCS) is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that helps stabilize communities by creating hope and promoting economic self-sufficiency to individuals and families through financial education and counseling.  CCCS MD State License #14-01
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