Housing Assistance Corporation’s most popular class in its Education Center is the First Time Home Buyer Class, but this fall, the class reached a milestone.
The First Time Home Buyer session ending September 30, 2013 graduated 50 people representing 33 households of potential new homebuyers to Cape Cod, according to Cheryl Kramer, HAC’s Housing Consumer Education Center Manager.
“It’s the first time since I arrived [at HAC] that we graduated a full class of 50 people,” said Cheryl, who has been with the agency for six years.
HAC has offered the First Time Homebuyer workshop series for more than 16 years, Cheryl said.
Students in the last session were a diverse group. They came from the following towns and villages: East Falmouth, Mashpee, East Sandwich, Osterville, Centerville, Hyannis, West Hyannisport, Barnstable, West Yarmouth, South Yarmouth, South Dennis, Dennis Port, Harwich, Harwichport, Chatham, North Chatham, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham.
Their incomes ranged from $20,000 to more than $100,000 per year.
They heard about the class from friends, Realtors, banking staff, Habitat for Humanity, a local housing authority, an online search, HAC’s website or from taking other classes at HAC.
Cheryl said all four evenings of the class offer different topics and speakers, resulting in active engagement from students.
There are many benefits to taking the First Time Homebuyer Class, starting with knowledge about the home-buying process, including who is involved in the process and what role they play. The class is required to qualify for some of the loans available in Massachusetts for first time homebuyers. It is also required for people who want to apply for the Down Payment and Closing Cost Program.
People who take the First Time Homebuyer class are taught how to purchase a home and avoid foreclosure, Cheryl said.
