Counseling Services Available

The Pennsylvania Housing Counseling Agency Network supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, and low– to moderate– income renters. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibility of homeownership. Individual and group education/classes are available for:

Pre Purchase/Homebuyer Education

Topics covered include but are not limited to: evaluating mortgagor readiness; fair housing (including whether or not the beneficiary belongs to a protected class and how to recognize discrimination); credit report analysis and repair; budgeting for mortgage payments; improving money management skills; selecting a real estate agent and home inspection. This also may include guidance on: alternative sources of mortgage credit; how to apply for special programs available to potential homebuyers; how to identify and avoid predatory lending practices; locating housing that provides universal design and visitability; locating resources and methods to help for accessibility modifications; how to purchase a home using Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program; referrals to community services and regulatory agencies.

Resolving or Preventing Mortgage Default or Delinquency

Topics covered include but are not limited to: restructuring debt; obtaining recertification for mortgage subsidy; establishing reinstatement plans; seeking loan forbearance; and managing household finances. Services will also include helping clients affected by predatory lending, homeownership preservation and foreclosure process, providing referrals to other sources, and assisting clients with locating alternative housing or pursuing loss mitigation strategies.