FREE HOME BUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING

First Time Home Buyer Education Course
The Dane County Housing Authority ("DCHA") offers education and counseling for first time homebuyers.

The process of buying a home for the first time can be exciting and a little overwhelming. Homebuyer education can help you understand the process and make you more confident about the exciting and complex process of becoming a homeowner.

You can learn about budgeting, the buying process, financing and caring for a home by attending courses offered at DCHA. Counselors, lenders, REALTORS® and Home Inspectors will explain their role in the process and help you become an informed homebuyer.

The course is a comprehensive, two-session course. Participants who complete the course will earn a Certificate of Education. These certificates are required for many down payment assistance programs and many lenders require the certificates for first-time homebuyer loans.

2005 Course Schedule
All sessions are Tuesdays 6:00 PM -- 9:00 PM at the DCHA, 2001 West Broadway, Madison (next to the McDonald's at South Towne).

  • Course 1: February 15 and February 22
  • Course 2: March 1 and March 8
  • Course 3: March 15 and March 22
  • Course 4: April 5 and April 12
  • Course 5: April 19 and April 26
  • HOME BUYER'S FAIR - APRIL 30
  • Course 6: May 3 and May 10
  • Course 7: May 17 and May 24
  • Course 8: June 7 and June 14
  • Course 9: June 21 and June 28
  • Course 10: July 19 and July 26
  • Course 11: August 2 and August 9
  • Course 12: August 16 and August 23
  • Course 13: September 20 and September 27
  • Course 14: October 4 and October 11
  • Course 15: October 18 and October 25
  • Course 16: November 1 and November 8

2006 Course Schedule
(Remainder of 2006 Course Schedule will be announced in March 2006)

  • Course 1: February 21 and February 28
  • Course 2: March 7 and March 14
  • Course 3: March 21 and March 28
  • Course 4: April 4 and April 11
  • Course 5: April 18 and April 25
  • Course 6: May 2 and May 9

Registration Is Required
Register by calling 608.224.3636 ext 18

Registrations are made via Voice Mail. Follow instructions and include a telephone number. Registrations will NOT be confirmed. No registration packets will be sent. You will receive all materials during the two course sessions. Registrants will be called only if the course that was requested is FULL. All courses are limited to 35 students. Both sessions 1 & 2 must be completed. Please call to cancel if unable to attend a course session.

Personal Financial Counseling
After completing the two sessions, you may schedule a one-to-one counseling session with a DCHA Housing Counselor. The DCHA staff is trained to help you review your credit, prioritize steps to improve your credit score, establish guidelines to keep your credit report positive, create family budgets and establish a long term home ownership plan.

A DCHA Housing Counselor will work with you in individualized counseling sessions to access your personal needs. Sometimes a single counseling session will be all that is needed. Other times a series of counseling sessions will be needed to create a financial plan, establish goals and then monitor your progress. Our goal is to help you meet your goals.

All Counseling Sessions are free of charge to Dane County residents.