BOISE – Standing between many Idahoans and their dream home is a challenging home-buying process that can be complex and sometimes difficult to navigate. Many potential homeowners worry about:
• Whether or not they can afford a home.
• How much money is needed for the down payment.
• How can they find the right home and then beat the competition with their offer.

And that’s just the beginning of the many things homebuyers must consider. The good news is Idaho Housing and Finance Association can help prepare homebuyers for the purchase of their lifetime with classes taught by home industry experts. The Finally Home! Homebuyer Education program is a great first step to understanding the home-buying process and preparing to navigate it successfully.

Today’s housing market is red hot and fiercely competitive. Those who enter in have to be ready to make quick, confident decisions when searching for the home of their dreams. Finally Home! classes equip homebuyers with important information to ensure they are prepared for success:
• How to select the right REALTOR® for their needs.
• What to look for in a house and how to make an offer when you find one.
• What are important considerations when choosing a lender.
• How much cash is needed for the down payment and closing costs.
• What credit score is needed to buy and how to qualify for a loan.
• How to avoid costly home-buying mistakes and get exciting money-savings tips.

Homebuyers will leave the Finally Home! class with the answers to these questions plus they can have all of their personal concerns about homebuying addressed by the industry experts who teach the class. Afterwards, as homebuyers are putting their new-found knowledge to use, additional questions can be answered by Idaho Housing’s counselors who can help with pre-purchase advice.

“To date, the Finally Home! program has helped more than 45,000 Idaho residents successfully navigate what can be a very complex and anxiety-filled process,” says Heather Bowman, Idaho Housing homebuyer education and counseling administrator. “Owning a home is part of the American dream and we are happy to be able to help that dream become a reality for many people and families across Idaho.”

The Finally Home! class is best taken in the early stages of the home-buying process, but those re-entering the home-buyer market can also benefit from attending. Upon completion, graduates may qualify for financial incentives including down payment and closing cost assistance, higher debt-ratio programs, lower mortgage insurance premiums, and “gifted funds” at closing.

Recent Finally Home! graduate J. Ramirez signed closing documents for his home loan this month and will soon be moving into his first home with his family of five. “The course had a bunch of information that I didn’t know about, but the most beneficial portion was learning about the different types of mortgages out there,” says Ramirez. “Overall it was a really good class and very helpful. The course itself was easy to access and understand. I really liked it.”

Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency. The Finally Home! program adheres to the National Industry Standards for Homeownship Education. Throughout the rest of 2016, classes will be held monthly at seven locations across the state in Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, Moscow/Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, and Sandpoint. A schedule follows.

In-person Finally Home! classes require an onsite registration fee between $10-20 per student. The class may also be taken online, in English or Spanish, at www.finallyhomecourse.com for a $50 registration fee.

 

Finally Home! Homebuyer Education Fall Schedule

AREA	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Boise For location and to register, call:    208.258.6225		Tue/Wed, Oct 18 & 19 6-9 pm*	Tue/Wed, Nov 15 & 16 6-9 pm*	none
Nampa For location and to register, call:   208.467.9534 or email frontdesk@ nampaboard.com		Sat, Oct 8 8:30 am-3 pm	Sat, Nov 12 8:30 am-3 pm	Sat, Dec 10 8:30 am-3 pm
Twin Falls For location and to register, call:   208.732.6442 or email dgause@csi.edu	Tue/Thu, Sept 27 & 29 6-8:30 pm*	Tue/Thu, Oct 25 & 27 6-8:30 pm*	Tuesdays, Nov 22 & 29 6-8:30 pm*	none
Coeur d'Alene For location and to register, call:   208.667.0664		Thu, Oct 13 5:15-9:45 pm	Wed, Nov 9 5:15-9:45 pm	none
Idaho Falls For location and to register, call:   208.523.1477		Mon/Tue, Oct 17 & 18 6:30-9:30 pm*	Sat, Nov 19 9 am-3 pm	none
Moscow/Lewiston For location and to register: www.moscowhousingtrust.org/	Wed/Thu, Sept 28 &29 5:30-9 pm* (Moscow)	Wed/Thu, Oct 12 & 13 5:30-9 pm* (Lewiston)	Wed/Thu, Nov 2 & 3 5:30-9 pm* (Moscow)	none
Sandpoint For location and to register, call:   208.263.5720		Sat, Oct 1 9 am-2 pm	Sat, Nov 5 9 am-2 pm	none

* If two dates are listed, both sessions must be attended to complete the coursework.

O filmu Konačno kod kuće!
Finally Home!Homebuyer Education is a program of Idaho Housing and Finance Association. Since Finally Home! was introduced in 1999, more than 45,000 Idahoans have graduated and used the information they learned to buy a home while avoiding the costly mistakes during the home purchase process. More information about Finally Home!Homebuyer Education classes and registration information is available at www.finallyhomeidaho.com.

O udruženju za stanovanje i finansiranje Idaha
Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a financial services and housing business organization. Its mission is to improve lives and strengthen Idaho communities by expanding affordable housing opportunities, building self-sufficiency, and fostering economic development.

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