Free Homebuyer Education Workshops and Online Courses

Online Homebuyer Education Course

Take our online homebuyer education course and receive a certificate that can help you qualify for down payment assistance and other state and local programs.

 InCharge Introduces the Home Buyers Club

InCharge Debt Solutions has created a Home Buyers Club to assist first-time homebuyers in understanding the requirements needed to be approved for a mortgage and qualify for down payment assistance of up to $80,000.

The Home Buyers Club will have one-hour Zoom meetings the final Saturday each month, starting Mar. 23.

To participate, you must answer questions in the housing intake form available here.

Those who complete the form will receive a virtual invitation link to the monthly meetings, which run from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the final Saturday of each month.

Completing the intake form allows the counselors at InCharge to assess your readiness to qualify for a mortgage. When they have evaluated your readiness, they can schedule individual meetings to help you advance in the program.

InCharge’s HUD-approved course includes instruction in the financial and practical aspects of buying and maintaining a home, along with material focused on the advantages and disadvantages of homeownership.

The consumer will learn about the importance of credit in the homebuying process. Counselors will teach you how to use credit in a responsible manner so that it helps you get approved for a mortgage loan.

The classes will teach you how to obtain and review your credit report; steps to take that will improve your credit score; how to create an affordable budget; and explain how debt-to-income ratios impact the loan process.

Another one-hour class will focus on down payment assistance programs available in Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole counties. Having a large enough down payment is often the biggest hurdle consumers must clear in order to buy a home.

InCharge’s Home Buyers Club program will teach you how to qualify for the down payment assistance programs in the county where you intend to buy. The down payment assistance ranges from $10,000 for middle income buyers in Orange County to $80,000 for extremely low-income buyers in Osceola County, with several levels in between in all four counties.

Other features the Home Buyers Club offers include:

• Classes on predatory lending, foreclosure scams, and documents required for closing a loan.
• Experienced housing counselors who will share their knowledge on the homebuying process, financial readiness, and budgeting tips.
• Interactive discussions with fellow aspiring homebuyers. Share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others who are on a similar path.
• Attend from the comfort of your home using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

InCharge Debt Solutions is recognized as adopting the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.