Housing Counseling

Prepare for homeownership with personalized guidance.

Get Started!

Our next In-Person Homebuyer Education Course will be announced soon.
Anunciaremos nuestro próximo curso Paso a Paso en Español pronto.

Our Online Homebuyer Education Course is available in English and Spanish by clicking the button below.

How It Works

Step 1: Attend and Complete an Online Homebuyer Education Course in your desired language.

In-Person Homebuyer Education Courses conducted in both English and Spanish are held at the Housing Partnership’s office, located at 2 East Blackwell Street, Dover, New Jersey. Open Google Maps

Step 2: Upon completion of the course, Submit an “Intake Package” to a HomeOwnership Specialist, that includes items such as pay stubs, w-2’s, authorizations to run your credit report, and identification. Upon receipt, your HomeOwnership Specialist will contact you to arrange your private counseling session.

Coaching sessions can be completed in person or virtually.

Please fill out forms completely. The Housing Partnership asks demographic questions in order to be compliant with grant funders and reporting requirements. Answering the forms completely helps us help you and we thank-you in advance for your assistance in completing the forms.

Step 3: Attend a one-on-one counselling session with your HomeOwnership Specialist, in order to receive a Homebuyer Education Certificate. Non-compliance with the one-on-one counseling session and submittal of a complete intake package will deem the participant ineligible to receive the Homebuyer Education Certificate.

Hear it from our homeowners

Success Stories

"With determination and the support of Housing Partnership, I was able to find the perfect home .I just want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to Stephanie from the Housing Partnership and Jennifer Piro from the Lakeland bank who are amazing for their unwavering support throughout this journey. They were there for me every step of the way, answering my questions, alleviating my concerns, and providing the guidance I needed to make this dream a reality. I stand before you as a proud homeowner , a testament to the power of perseverance , and community support and the dreams do come true!"

“We closed yesterday on our first home. None of this would have been possible if our HomeOwnership Specialist, wasn’t there to guide us through the process. She really was our guardian angel through this whole ordeal. We cannot thank her enough for all her hard work, from banks to lenders, lawyers, etc., I would highly recommend the Housing Partnership for anyone looking to purchase their first home. A+”

Counseling and Coaching

After attending our home buyer education workshops, you will be eligible for one-on-one counseling and coaching sessions with our certified staff. We listen, we ask questions, and we help you find answers so that you can buy your home.

Don't Worry

The Housing Partnership offers free, confidential foreclosure counseling. We are a HUD certified counseling agency who understands the process and can be your liaison/advocate with your mortgage company. The counseling includes:

Determine where you stand with your mortgage delinquency.
Know your options when it comes to pre-foreclosure and foreclosure.
Develop and review your household budget and credit.
Work with you and your loan servicer to discover options that may be available to you.
Prepare modification packages to try and negotiate better terms for your mortgage.
Set an action plan for your individual situation.

Your Home Ownership Specialist will help you get your paperwork in order and advise on any potential obstacles to review with your lender.

Don't Miss Out

95% of Step by Step graduates have at least one coaching session with our certified homeownership specialists, so it’s smart to take advantage of this free resource! Our counselors will help you:

Determine where you are in the home buying process
Obtain and interpret your credit report with FICO score
Set savings goals and a monthly budget
Determine how much home you can afford
Establish your home buying action plan!
Determine if you are eligible for special programs such as down
payment assistance, matched savings programs – and more!

Coaching sessions are free of charge after you complete your home buyer education training.

Home Buyer FAQs

Who is a first time buyer?

The definition of a first time home buyer according to HUD is:

Someone who has never owned a home
Someone who owned a home but sold it over 3 year ago
Someone who is divorced and buying on their own for the first time

How will homebuyer education help me?

The Homebuyer education workshop will provide you with the foundation to start your homeownership journey. The information will provide you with the ins and outs of buying a home and how to best prepare.

What are the benefits of homebuyer education?

Studies show that people who complete home buyer education are less likely to default on their mortgages. You will also have access to special first time home buyer programs and mortgages. Individual one-on-one counseling sessions are also included after completion of the workshops – to help you determine where you are in the process of buying and working with a HomeOwnership specialist to set up a course of action to get you into your first home.

Do I have to complete both nights?

Yes, you are required to complete both days of workshops.

Do I have to be low income to participate?

No. Everyone and anyone who is considering purchasing their first home is welcome to attend our workshops! HomeOwnership is more than likely the biggest purchase in a person’s life and we want to ensure that they are successful.

If you have more questions or want to know more, please contact the staff members below

Stephanie Otaegui

Housing Counseling Program Director
HUD-Certified Housing Counselor
contact@hpnj.us

Australynn Aidoo

Housing Counselor-Financial Capability Lead
contact@hpnj.us