This 8-hour workshop walks through the entire homebuying process from making the decision to buy a home to understanding the closing process and the importance of protecting your investment.

Register for the next workshop scheduled for June 22!  Please note that this class is for residents of Talbot and Dorchester Counties, only.

Topics include:

• Assessing your readiness for homeownership
• Understanding budgeting and credit for homebuyers: housing affordability
• Financing a home: Understanding lenders, mortgage products, loan processes, and predatory lending
• Shopping for a home: working with a realtor, getting a home inspection
• Protecting your investment: home maintenance, budgeting as a homeowner, refinancing options, avoiding foreclosure, disposition of your home

This 2-hour workshop covers topics important to financial health and protecting your investments as a homeowner.

Topics include:

• Budgeting for homeowners
• Home maintenance and improvements
• Financing home improvements
• Community involvement
• Preventing foreclosure and mortgage options for homeowners
• What to know when it is time to sell or transfer your home

This 2-hour workshop covers topics about financial health, affordable rental housing, and understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Topics include:

• Housing affordability and affordable housing options
• Understanding leases
• Renters insurance
• Fair Housing for renters
• The eviction process
• Maryland Landlord-Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

This 2-hour workshop covers topics for understanding the basics of managing finances and the tools available to improve financial health.

Topics include:

• Banking basics
• Budgeting
• Understanding credit
• Savings plans
• Preparing for future expenses

This 1.5 hour workshop provides information about recognizing and avoiding predatory lending tactics and understanding discrimination in housing.

Topics include:

• Fair housing terms and definitions
• Signs of discrimination
• Prohibited practices
• Filing a Fair Housing complaint in Maryland
• Predatory lending terms and definitions
• Predatory tactics
• Identity theft protection

This 2-hour workshop provides an understanding of the process of getting and closing a mortgage loan, the importance of wills, and available insurance options.

Topics include:

• The process of getting a mortgage
• Mortgage documents
• The settlement process
• Explanation of wills
• Creating a will
• Attorney services
• Insurance options: homeowners, renters, and life insurance

This 2-hour workshop that provides information about being active in your community and an overview of what it means to be a good neighbor.

Topics include:

• Advocacy in your community
• Local government
• Voting
• Volunteerism
• Being a good neighbor
• Conflict resolution

This 2-hour workshop partners with local Law Enforcement and Fire Departments to provide information about safety and fire prevention.

Topics include:

• Fire prevention
• Fire extinguishers
• Community safety
• Home safety

One-on-one counseling to assist clients with the homebuying process. Services include establishing a budget, reviewing credit, understanding financial options, identifying barriers to homeownership, and developing an action plan to reach the goal of homeownership.

One-on-one counseling to assist homeowners with budgeting, understanding refinancing options, home equity, home improvement options, and other topics for protecting the investment of homeownership.

One-on-one counseling to assist clients who are seeking to locate, secure, and/or maintain residence in rental housing. Services may include financial analysis, determining housing affordability, identifying affordable housing options, and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.

One-on-one counseling to assist clients with creating a budget, calculating housing affordability, and providing a credit analysis.