Need financing to buy your first home?
Do you need financing at a time and interest rate you can afford – and some expertise that is free of charge – to buy your first house? We’d love to help! Here at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor we wear many hats. But, as a not-for-profit organization all of our roles are to help the people of Grays Harbor.
In fact, the mission of NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County is to develop partnerships in the community between business, government, and residents to create safe and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Grays Harbor County.
One of the major ways we do that is to encourage, support and facilitate home ownership. Studies – and experience – have proven that home ownership helps stabilize and strengthen communities.
YOU CAN FINANCE THROUGH US
We can actually help make your dream of home ownership a reality. For starters, we have money available to loan to first-time homebuyers – up to 100 percent of the cost of the home including closing costs sometimes! And, now is a great time to buy a house in Grays Harbor.
Real estate is a time-honored place to invest your money – especially here, where the prices are lower. However, the demand is beginning to increase with more people discovering the benefits of living in this beautiful place!
If you are considering buying a home for the first time, you’ll need to contact our Housing Counselor Julie. Just call her at (360) 533-7828. However, make sure to read the rest of this blog first!
PREPPING TO OWN VIA E-HOME
One of the first things Julie will tell you when you call is the importance of prequalifying for a loan, whether you plan to get the loan from us or someone else.
Many first-time homebuyers are finding the internet education platform at eHomeamerica.org ready to fulfill this need. It costs $50 per person that will be buying a house. When you are done with the course, we – at no cost – are available to make sure you understand the material.
We are a member of a Washington collaborative called HomeSage.org dedicated to offering access to eHome America to every corner of this state. At National Industry Standard, this home buyer education course results in a certificate which is required for some of the best loan deals in the state and country. It is an excellent resource for potential homebuyers and is the first step in the home-buying process.
When you’ve completed the course and optional counseling session, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is accepted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Washington State Housing Finance and other lenders that require you to have completed a home-buyer education course to take advantage of their loan products. The $50 is well-worth the information you’ll gain and may even help you get a lower price on a home or lower interest percentage.
NEED HELP WITH BUDGETING?
Perhaps your dream is to buy a home, but you also know that even if it is fully financed, you still can’t afford the costs of the upkeep of the home. We may be able to help with that, too! We offer help with household budgeting and planning to save money to make a home purchase not only possible to buy, but to also maintain it.
In addition, if you have credit issues, we can show you the path to repairing your credit. It’s not magic, and takes a bit of time, but with a budget and an advocate to help you, your credit can be brought up to a standard that will help you rather than hurt you. Did you know that the price you pay for car insurance is also attached to your credit score? Fixing your credit means reducing the cost of insurance!
HOUSES THAT NEED LITTLE WORK
While for most folks it’s best to buy a house that’s move-in ready, sometimes the house that’s available is one that needs a little work. We may be able to help you there, too. We actually have some rehab loans available to help get a new home in ship-shape before you move in.
GIVE US A CALL!
Our housing counseling services are provided free of charge. Our business hours are 8 to 5 Monday through Thursday. Call us at (360) 533-7828 to make an appointment. We want to help.
