Module Summary
Once clients have a better understanding of their financial ability to afford housing, housing counselors can provide additional information to help them make an informed decision about their housing options. In this module, you’ll learn about different types of mortgages and related costs, including mortgage insurance. You’ll also learn to identify funds available to potential homebuyers for down payment assistance, as well as sources of rental assistance and other resources available to future tenants.

Module Summary If clients decide to leave or are unable to maintain their homes, housing counselors can help by providing options and resources. In this module, you’ll learn about the costs and consequences of disposition options such as foreclosure, short sale, and deed-in-lieu. You’ll also learn about the steps involved in transitioning away from the home, through foreclosure or other methods, and programs that can assist in the process.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, counselor will be able to:

Module Summary Housing counselors have a responsibility to understand the Fair Housing Act, to be able to recognize signs and evidence of potential housing discrimination, and to promote client awareness about fair housing requirements. It is necessary for housing counselors to be able to give clients information on how to file a fair housing complaint through HUD or through state and local programs that handle such complaints.

Module Summary
Fundamental knowledge of personal finance is central to successful household management, and housing counselors should understand budgeting basics in order to assist clients effectively. In this module, you’ll learn how to help clients identify and define their financial goals and how to coach them on creating a household budget. You’ll also learn to help identify strategies to adjust the budget and develop a realistic Client Action Plan.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, counselor will be able to:

Module Summary
An important role of a housing counselor is to help clients understand the importance of establishing and maintaining a good credit history in order to achieve their financial goals. In this module, you’ll learn how to analyze a client’s credit report and explain the components of a credit score. You’ll also learn to advise clients on the pitfalls of bad credit, and how to improve credit scores. Last, you’ll become familiar with consumer rights protected by credit laws and how to explain these to clients.

Module Summary Clients facing the daunting prospect of foreclosure are in crisis mode. They seek assistance with handling past due bills, determining if they can afford their home in the years to come, and working with servicers to request retention options to remain in their homes.

Module Summary
While housing counseling involves assisting clients to build and manage their finances, it is also important for housing counselors to understand how to protect assets. In this module, you’ll learn about types of predatory lending to avoid and how to protect identity information against theft and fraud. You’ll also learn about bankruptcy, including how to describe the difference between Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies, explain the impact to financial health, and address appropriate times to discuss bankruptcy.

Module Summary
To assist clients with housing options, housing counselors can help clients determine what type of housing may be most appropriate depending on their circumstances. In this module, you’ll learn to calculate housing and debt-to-income ratios using information about income and credit. You’ll also learn to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of renting versus owning a home, including scope of payments, upfront costs, and tax implications.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, counselor will be able to: