Are you thinking about buying a home? The journey to homeownership can be complex, but with the right guidance, it can also be incredibly rewarding. At Starting Now, we provide expert homeownership counseling tailored to meet your unique financial circumstances and housing goals. Our services include intake, financial and housing affordability analysis, an action plan, and follow-up communication to help you navigate the path to homeownership.
Why Housing Counseling is Essential
Housing counseling offers independent, expert advice customized to your needs. Our counselors address your specific financial situations or housing issues and help you overcome obstacles to achieve your housing goals. Here’s what our housing counseling process involves:
- Understanding Your Financial Situation: We analyze your financial standing to help you figure out how much you can afford.
- Knowing Your Rights: We educate you on your rights as a homeowner.
- Shopping for a Loan: We guide you through the process of finding the best loan options available.
- Home Buying Programs: We inform you about various programs that can assist you in purchasing a home.
- Shopping for a Home: We provide tips and strategies for finding the perfect home.
- Getting a Home Inspection: We stress the importance of a thorough home inspection to avoid costly surprises later.
The Components of Homeownership Counseling
Our counseling services cover every aspect of the homeownership process:
- The Decision to Purchase a Home: We help you determine if buying a home is the right choice for you.
- The Selection and Purchase of a Home: We guide you through selecting and purchasing a home that fits your needs and budget.
- Issues During Homeownership: We assist with financing, refinancing, dealing with defaults, and other financial decisions.
- Sale or Disposition of a Home: We provide guidance on selling or otherwise disposing of your home when needed.
The Importance of Home Inspections
As part of our homeownership counseling process, we provide clients with HUD-required materials on the importance of obtaining an independent home inspection. This is crucial whether you’re receiving pre-purchase counseling, attending a homebuyer education workshop, or seeking post-purchase advice. Home inspections help identify potential issues that could cost you significantly if not addressed before closing.
Key Publications for Homebuyers
We provide two essential publications available in both English and Spanish:
- Form HUD-92564: “For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection” or “Para Su Protección: Manda A Hacer Una Inspección De La Casa”
- “Ten Important Questions to Ask A Home Inspector” or “Diez Preguntas Importantes Para su Inspector de Vivienda”
These materials emphasize the importance of a home inspection and provide valuable questions to ask your inspector. The cost of a home inspection is a small investment compared to the potential expenses of undiscovered damage.
How We Can Help
Our counselors will discuss the home inspection process with you during one-on-one sessions. This is a required topic under homeownership counseling, ensuring you are fully informed and prepared to make the best decisions for your future home.
If you have questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our housing counselors. We’re here to help you understand and address housing barriers and achieve your homeownership goals. Contact us today to start your journey towards owning your dream home!
For more details and resources, visit our website or give us a call at (954) 833-1135. Together, we can make your dream of homeownership a reality.
