Homebuyer Education on the Rise in the Northern Shenandoah Valley

Today’s post is a collaboration between VHDA and People Inc. of Virginia.

Housing professionals in the Northern Shenandoah Valley are joining together to expand homebuyer education opportunities. They recently completed VHDA's Homeowership Education Train-the-Trainer Program, the first step towards teaching VHDA‘s First-time Homebuyer class.

Although local housing professionals streamline the home purchase transaction as much as possible, buyers benefit when they are knowledgable as well. How do buyers achieve this? Through the free class offered by VHDA’s Homebuyer Education program. Class topics include: personal finance, credit and credit issues, role of the lender, working with a Realtor®, the home inspection and loan closing. It provides homebuyers with a curriculum that is standard throughout the state, with a strong emphasis on education without solicitation.

Julie Reeves, a mortgage advisor with VBS Mortgage in Woodstock says about the program, “you will become a stronger borrower, and will be able to make informed decisions about the options available to you … it provides a comfort level about the process so you can concentrate on finding a home.”

With a greater number of speakers available, the nonprofits that facilitate the classes in the Northern Shenandoah Valley area (Blue Ridge Housing Network, People Inc. of Virginia, and Virginia Cooperative Extension) plan to increase the frequency, location and languages of classes. Classes are currently taught in Front Royal, Winchester and Woodstock. This spring, classes will also be offered in Spanish and a location will be organized in Luray.

Times and locations for free First-time Homebuyer classes in the Valley may be found at www.vhda.com/FreeClass.
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