Why Take This Course?

Course Description:

Although the U.S. housing market has been returning to normal after the recession in the early 2000s, housing affordability is still a major issue. The effects of the housing crunch ripple across society. When housing is unaffordable, employees can’t find decent housing options near their jobs, so employers lose the ability to attract and retain workers. As business revenues fall, so do municipal tax revenues. For most Americans, homeownership represents the single most critical step in wealth creation.

This course teaches you how to build partnerships in your practice. You’ll learn how to develop relationships with housing counselors, nonprofit organizations, lenders, and governmental agencies and officials. These partnerships will open new avenues to affordability. Most important, you’ll partner with your clients more effectively than before as you find the services and opportunities that are right for them. Vital to your ability to establish new partnerships will be your understanding of the issues, programs, and opportunities surrounding affordable housing today. By the end of the course, you’ll understand what makes these partnerships work.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify your role in affordable housing.
2. Describe affordable housing and housing opportunities.
3. Explain how demographic changes impact affordable housing and housing opportunities.
4. List special considerations for first-time homebuyers.
5. Identify the benefits of working with housing counselors.
6. Explain where to locate down payment and closing cost assistance.
7. Describe qualifying guidelines for conventional and government loans.
8. Explain how housing opportunities can be increased in your community.
9. Identify opportunities for local advocacy.
10. Locate resources online and in your local community to educate yourself and your client on affordable housing opportunities.