Home Buyers Assistance
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Education Programs
BCL's certified instructors provide NeighborWorks America approved curriculm offering various classes along with one-on-one counseling to assist people on becoming financial independant, homeowners, and learn how to build and maintain their assets.
Save for Our Own: Financial Literacy Education-
BCl of Texas working in partneership with NeighborWorks® America has developed a “Financial Fitness” program to help individuals and families develop sound money management skills. Financial education is a critical need both for consumers and for communities. For consumers, financial education is the key to building wealth — regardless of their incomes. For communities, financial education programs can help promote stronger and more stable neighborhoods—where residents are more resistant to downturns in the economy and other financial threats.
Financial education can help families become more aware of common pitfalls and thus avoid them. It can also help them to learn the financial management and planning skills needed to make the most of their income, savings and assets. "Save for Our Own" is offered through one-on-one counseling.
Home of Our Own: Homebuyer Education- BCL offers a variety of pre-purchase homebuyer education programs for first-time homebuyers. Our basic pre-purchase class reviews all the fundamentals of homeownership, including the pros and cons of purchasing a home; the roles of realtors, mortgage originators, mortgage underwriters, and attorneys; financial management and budgeting needs; mortgage underwriting criteria and general mortgage-related terminology. An emphasis is also placed on the basic responsibilities of a homeowner. Special modules are offered that focus specifically on financial fitness or financial literacy training, and individual counseling is offered to those who need to work on their credit to become mortgage-ready. To learn more about BCL's Home of Our Own program go to our homebuyer class schedule page or online homebuyer class page.
BCL provides other agencies with the pre-purchase education that they require for participation in their home purchase programs. Past, present, and future partners include the City of Austin, City of Wharton, City of El Campo, High Point Mortgage, and Capital Area Housing Finance Corporation.
Maintain on Our Own: Post Purchase Education- Post-Purchase education and counseling is a vital part of the homebuyer education process because it supports successful long-term homeownership. With this in mind, the program is designed around financial management, for example to help homeowners build savings and be more prepared for dealing with unforeseen events, such as the loss of a job, divorce, or illness. The program also teaches homeowners how to manage their home as an asset and use their equity responsibly while learning how to maintain their properties to promote safety and prevent future costly repairs is also important. Finally, leadership development is a major part of the program, encouraging new homeowners to get more involved in their communities. "Maintain on Our Own" will be launching in 2010.
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