Washington Homeownership Center

Click below on the Step to Homeownership where you are right now and need information about.

Click here for a short description of the steps to Homeownership>

Local Homeownership Resources for:
Puget Sound: King, Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties

Become Educated About the Home Buying Process

The Washington Homeownership Center strongly recommends that all potential homebuyers attend a First-Time Homebuyer Education Seminar, sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. These seminars provide an overview of the home buying process, allowing you to be more educated as you begin on your path towards homeownership. Many of the down payment assistance programs require all homebuyers who are applying for a loan complete a First-Time Homebuyer Education Seminar.

Local Resources:

Washington Homeownership Center (WHC) is a non-profit agency that helps low to moderate-income households achieve the dream of homeownership. We provide a clearinghouse of information for first-time homebuyers who often face multiple barriers to homeownership. WHC provides monthly homebuyer education seminars. Call 877.894.4663 to find out when classes are offered, or click here for a current schedule.

Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) sponsors free 5-hour seminars that are taught by industry professionals (lenders, non-profits, real estate agents) in an unbiased, non-sales oriented format. These seminars give an excellent overview of the various steps involved in purchasing a home and help the participant become familiar with the industry’s jargon. A certificate is given upon completion of the class and is valid for 2 years. This certificate is required to qualify for several first-time homebuyer loan programs. A current schedule of classes can be found by clicking here or visit www.wshfc.org

Solid Ground is a non-profit organization that provides Mortgage Default Counseling. The counselors work with homeowners in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties to avoid foreclosure. Counselors provide information on the foreclosure process, can provide one-on-one assistance to secure community resources, develop a household budget and negotiate with lenders for repayment strategies. For more information call 866-297-4300 or visit the website.

HomeSight,King and Snohomish County, is a non-profit organization that provides homebuyer education, one-on-one financial counseling, purchase assistance loans, newly built affordable homes for purchase, and other community development services. HomeSight’s homebuyer financial education series includes: Money For Nothing: Predatory Lending Tactics; Legal Documents and Mortgage Default Prevention; Financial Road Mapping; and Home Maintenance. HomeSight is designed to walk those who want assistance through the purchase process and purchase assistance. HomeSight is a HUD Certified Counseling Agency and Equal Housing Opportunity Provider. To begin the education program call 206. 723.4355, 1.888.749.4663 or visit www.homesightwa.org for more information.

Kulshan Community Land Trust (CLT), Bellingham, is a non-profit organization working to provide affordable homeownership throughout Whatcom County for low to moderate-income households, using the community land trust approach. To attend a WSHFC free seminar or for more information, call 360.671.5600 or visit www.kclt.org.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle -- The Urban League offers budget and credit counseling, pre-purchase counseling, mortgage default counseling, and links to various other affordable housing programs. For more information call Linda Taylor at 206.461.3792 or visit www.urbanleague.org/programs.html

Multi-lingual Resources

El Centro de la Raza
The Latino Homeownership Program will assist you in getting information on how to qualify for a loan, how to build credit, down payment assistance programs, mortgage default counseling and the steps to homeownership. They have monthly homebuyer education seminars in Spanish and English. For more information call Arturo Gonzalez at 206.329.7960 or visit www.elcentrodelaraza.com

International District Housing Alliance
Homeownership 1, 2, 3 program provides multi-lingual services for low-income Asian and Pacific Islanders including pre-purchase counseling, WSHFC First-Time Homebuyer Education Seminars, community outreach, translated materials, and interpretation services in Cambodian, Chinese (Cantonese & Mandarin), Tagalog, and Vietnamese. For more information call 206.623.0122.

WHC provides our materials in the following languages upon request: Afan Oromo, Ahmaric, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Russian and Vietnamese. Please contact us at 206.587.5641 or 800.317.2918 to receive materials in any of these languages.

The Federal Fair Housing Act
Being educated on the Fair Housing Act will help to prevent discrimination in the home buying process.
Click here to learn more about who is protected under the Fair Housing Act and for statewide resources.

Local Resources for Fair Housing violations:

King County Office of Civil Rights
Yesler Building
400 Yesler Way, Room 260
Seattle, WA 98104-2683
206.296.7592
TTY 206.296.7596

Seattle Office of Civil Rights
810 Third Avenue, Suite 750
Seattle, WA 98104-1627
206.684.4500
TTY 206.684.4503

Predatory Lending
Predatory lending takes advantage of borrowers by charging higher fees and hidden costs. Every borrower is at risk, however the risk increase for people of color, the elderly and those with less than perfect credit.
Click to learn more and steps for avoiding predatory lending.

Local Resources:
Information, Referral and Education about Predatory Lending
• Washington Homeownership Center
206.587.5641
877.894.4663 (toll-free in Washington State)
In Spanish contact:
• El Centro de la Raza
206.329.9442
In Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese or Tagalog contact:
• International Housing District Alliance
206.623.0122
To File a Complaint Against a Lending Institution
• Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
800.372.8303
www.dfi.wa.gov
• Seattle Office for Civil Rights
206.684.4500
• King County Office for Civil Rights
(Outside Seattle)
206.296.7592

Free Legal Advice
If you are low income and need legal advice contact:

CLEAR:
• 888.201.1014
• 888.387.7111 (Age 60 or over)
www.nwjustice.org
• King County Bar Association:
206.624.9365 (King County)

2. Credit History

Learning About Credit

Credit is one of the most important components when applying for a mortgage. The more you understand your credit, the more likely you are to receive a mortgage that fits your situation.

Click here to understand the importance of credit in the home buying process and steps to improve your credit.

Local non-profit agencies that can assist with credit counseling
The following agencies, located in Seattle, can help you with developing a budget, defining financial goals and tracking your expenses and rebuilding your credit:

International District Housing Alliance
206.623.0122

El Centro de la Raza
206.329.9442

Solid Ground
206.694.6700

HomeSight
206.723.4335

Urban League
206.461.3697

Financial Literacy Education

Skagit County Community Action Agency offers the Financial Advancement Community Empowerment (FACE) program. The program is designed to help people set and reach their financial goals and help them plan for the future. It is a combination of financial training, debt elimination, better budgeting, home ownership and leadership training. For more information, call 360.416.7585.

Consumer Education and Training Services (CENTS), is a non-profit organization the empowers consumers of every age to take control of their finances and avoid preventable money issues through education and training. CENTS is also committed to assisting consumers who are already suffering from financial challenge. CENTS provides financial education seminars, money management training, debt counseling, referrals, and legal services. For more information, call 206.267.7017, or visit www.centsprogram.com