In the months of March and April, Habitat for Humanity will be offering free courses on buying a home and what you should know before purchasing a home. Call 217-819-5113 to register.
The schedule is as follows:
Home ownership – Buying a Home
March 28 at 6:00 p.m – Are You Ready to Buy a Home?
- How do you buy a home?
- Mortgage payment and other costs of ownership
- How much can you pay for a house?
March 30th at 6:00 p.m – Managing your Money & Credit
- Getting started with making a plan for your money
- The importance of saving
- What is a credit score & credit rating
- Improving your credit record
April 4th at 6:00 p.m – Getting a Mortgage Loan
- Who can get a mortgage loan?
- How much will a lender loan to you?
- Working with a lender
April 6th at 6:00 p.m – Shopping for a Home
- Timeline and steps in the home buying process
- Types of homes and ownership
- Escrow explained & What to expect at closing
April 11th at 6:00 p.m – Keeping Your Home
- Home maintenance and saving energy
- Record keeping-save it or shred it?
- Dealing with unexpected hardships
Home Ownership – Post Purchase (Attend all three classes for a chance to win a $500 Home Improvement gift card)
April 18th at 6:00 p.m – Budgeting, Saving, and Keeping Records
- New Home: New Budget–the power of planning
- Save for a rainy day (or a leaky roof)!
- Save it or shred it-what to keep and for how long
April 20th at 6:00 p.m – Being Part of Your Community
- Benefits of community
- Community involvement-neighbors, friends, leaders…
- Being a part of your community-curb appeal
April 23rd at 10:00 a.m – Home Maintenance
- Home improvement
- Preventative maintenance
- Repair or replace