Counseling and Classes
Helping You Buy or Stay in your Home!
SJCS offers homebuyers the opportunity to receive personalized counseling to both prospective homebuyers of any home, not just a home from SJCS, and to those currently renting or owning their home and are in danger of becoming homeless. Our housing counselor provides guidance and advice to help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibility of sustainable homeownership. Our counselor is bilingual in English and Spanish. SJCS is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
Homebuying Counseling and Education
Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society is dedicated assisting you in the process of becoming a homeowner. This is a big step in your financial future, and our goal is to provide you with the tools and knowledge required for you to be successful.
Counseling
Homebuying Counseling covers the following topics:
- Completing necessary applications to become a homebuyer
- Evaluating mortgagor readiness
- How to establish credit
- Credit report analysis and repair
- Budgeting for mortgage payments
- Improving money management skills
- Scheduling home inspections
- Referrals to title companies, mortgage lenders, real estate agents, homeowners insurance brokers and other service providers
- Closing assistance
- How to apply for special programs and down payment assistance available to potential homebuyers
- Locating resources and methods to help for home improvements
- Assistance in choosing a home within your budget
- Post-purchase counseling on home budgeting, home improvements and referrals to neighborhood services
The cost for both the Homeowner’s Academy and One on One counseling is $65 for an individual and $90 for a couple. This cost covers a credit check and course materials.
If you have any questions regarding the homeowner’s process, please contact Sandra Walden at (856) 966-8117, extension 219. SJCS staff is available to answer your questions about owning a home or participating in SJCS’s homeowner education classes.
Classes
The objective of the Homeowner’s Academy is to teach people about the homebuying process and help develop a sound financial foundation.
Financial Fitness is the first series of classes for each prospective homebuyer. The series is the basis for the first steps which a person takes in buying a home the first time. The emphasis is on budgeting followed by credit repair & management.
Homebuyer Education is the second series of classes where the focus is on the contracts, home-owner’s insurance, obtaining & paying a mortgage, settlement & becoming part of a neighborhood.
Classes are offered in Spanish & English. Classes are offered Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm to 8 pm.
The cost for both the Homeowner’s is $65 for an individual and $90 for a couple. This cost covers a credit check and course materials.
Don’t have time to come in to our classroom and participate in our weekly education courses? That’s ok! Now you can complete our required homebuyer education class from the comfort of your own home, through a partnership with eHome America. Their online course will cover topics like mortgage and finance, budgeting, and how to maintain your home. Upon completion please contact our office to receive your certificate.
The online course fee provided by eHome America is $99.00.
PLEASE NOTE: This fee does NOT include a credit check and is a fee collected by eHome America. Credit checks are $35 per credit report. For instance, if you are a couple purchasing a home, you must provide an additional $60 for credit reports.
Post Purchase Counseling
Once you have purchased a home, our post-purchase/non-delinquency education and counseling can help you navigate life as a homeowner. Common issues like home maintenance and financial management are covered. Come talk to our counselors for help with, among other topics:
Post-Purchase Counseling covers the following topics:
- How to sustain credit
- Credit report analysis and repair
- Budgeting for home repairs
- Improving money management skills
- Avoiding predatory lending and other credit traps available to homeowners
- Understanding property tax increases and insurance
- Locating resources and methods to help for home improvements
- Maintenance of your home
- Post-purchase counseling on home budgeting, home improvements and referrals to neighborhood services
Links to resources:
If you have any questions regarding post-purchase counseling, please contact Sandra Walden at (856) 966-8117, extension 219. SJCS staff is available to answer your questions about owning a home or participating in SJCS’s homeowner education classes.
Rental Counseling
SJCS assists you even if you don’t own a home. SJCS counselors provide rental counseling that provides advice to renters. Counseling topics include:
Rental Counseling covers the following topics:
- How to establish credit
- Credit report analysis and repairs
- Improving money management skills
- Fair Housing
- Leases
- Tenant/Landlord disputes
- Locating resources and methods to help for rental assistance
Links to resources:
If you have any questions regarding rental counseling, please contact Sandra Walden at (856) 966-8117, extension 219. SJCS staff is available to answer your questions about owning a home or participating in SJCS’s homeowner education classes.