Home Start, Inc., A Member of The Affordable Homes Group


Frequently Asked Questions I am just starting to think about buying a home. Is this program right for me? Absolutely. Now is the best time for you to begin to learn about all of the steps involved in the home purchase process and become familiar with the many options that will become available to you along the way. The sooner you know what will be involved in the process, the more confident you can feel in the decisions that you make along the way. What if I have already started trying to purchase a home on my own? This program is for everyone. You may have experienced a good deal of success so far, and there is no harm in becoming an even wiser buyer so that you continue to make smart decisions along the way. We often hear from folks who have tried to start the process on their own and experienced frustration with not understanding what is involved and what is necessary throughout the process. What will I gain from attending the homebuyer education seminar? Can I receive special grants and loan programs? After completing the homebuyer education and training program you will be eligible to receive a number of grant, loan, and special financing programs offered to low- to moderate-income households. Banks offer a loan program to first time homebuyers known as a CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) loan. CRA programs differ from bank to bank, but each offers benefits to purchasers who are eligible for the loan. One bank my offer an unbeatable interest rate while another may offer a grant toward closing costs. All of these CRA loans are zero-point, low-cost loans, meaning that borrowers pay minimal upfront costs – usually only an application fee. What if my credit is not so great? Can I still be a part of this program? Any future homebuyer must have good enough credit to qualify for a loan. This program does not offer you a way to obtain a mortgage with unpaid collections, judgments, or other delinquent balances. You can, and should, still participate in homebuyer education. It is never too early to start learning about the home purchase process and gain an understanding of what is involved. We do help homebuyers understand their credit, but we cannot help anyone settle bad debts. If you require such assistance, you should also simultaneously seek credit counseling while you participate in this program. How long will it take for me to purchase a home? Each person and every situation is different. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need time to plan. Poor or complete lack of planning is what gets many unknowledgeable homebuyers into trouble. Be realistic. Don’t wait until one or two months before your lease is up to start thinking about buying a home. Is the certificate I receive for completing the homebuyer education course only good for a certain amount of time? It is up to the funding source to make this determination. Whether it is your mortgage lender or the source offering a grant or subsidy, the party giving the money makes the decision. Some programs, like the First Home Club, may specify at which point during the process you are to complete homebuyer education. I am aware that there are other programs offered at no cost. Please explain the $25 registration fee. We at The Affordable Homes Group would like to do everything possible to help first time homebuyers like you learn to make the best decisions when purchasing a home. We feel that you are entitled to these services, and for past 8 years have been providing them to you almost entirely at our own cost. Because of the increasing demand for pre-purchase counseling and the ever-growing numbers attending our seminars, it is simply impossible for us to continue to meet this need with the same quality of services and materials. In order for us to do so, we ask future buyers cover the cost of the curriculum and materials they are provided when attending the homebuyer education seminars. Delta Real Estate funds the remainder of our expenses, including one-on-one counseling services, which are still offered at no charge. What makes this program especially right for me? Home Start, Inc. is a Fannie Mae approved pre-purchase education provider. We have also been recognized by local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representatives, and had the regional director present in past seminars. We are approved by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for First Home Club counseling. We use our own curriculum in our education seminars. We spent over six months developing the material when Home Start, Inc. began in 1996, and are constantly adding updated, corrected, and otherwise helpful information as the laws and practices affecting the lending and real estate markets change. In March 2003 we performed a major overhaul on our material, as a good deal had changed up to that time. Because the curriculum is something that we have compiled and written ourselves, we are very confident in the accuracy of the information we are providing. Our curriculum is a tool that serves as a helpful reference throughout the purchase process. We have had clients bring their book to the settlement table and refer to it as closing is taking place! Home Start, Inc. partners with Delta Real Estate, another part of our non-profit organization. In addition to being education providers, the staff that work with Home Start, Inc. are also New Jersey licensed real estate salespersons and brokers. Our Broker of Record, Kent Pips, is now licensed by the state of New Jersey as a Real Estate Instructor, making him qualified to teach those becoming agents about real estate laws and practices. We are Realtors®, members of the National Association of Realtors. We work with clients every day in the real estate market. Our experience and knowledge is not developed simply in the classroom setting, but in the real world of home sales and purchases. When we say that we successfully represent clients from the very beginning to the very end, we mean it.
Back to Home Start, Inc. Delta Real Estate Homes of Hope People First The Salt & Light Co., Inc. Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

I am just starting to think about buying a home. Is this program right for me?

Absolutely. Now is the best time for you to begin to learn about all of the steps involved in the home purchase process and become familiar with the many options that will become available to you along the way. The sooner you know what will be involved in the process, the more confident you can feel in the decisions that you make along the way.

What if I have already started trying to purchase a home on my own?

This program is for everyone. You may have experienced a good deal of success so far, and there is no harm in becoming an even wiser buyer so that you continue to make smart decisions along the way. We often hear from folks who have tried to start the process on their own and experienced frustration with not understanding what is involved and what is necessary throughout the process.

What will I gain from attending the homebuyer education seminar? Can I receive special grants and loan programs?

After completing the homebuyer education and training program you will be eligible to receive a number of grant, loan, and special financing programs offered to low- to moderate-income households. Banks offer a loan program to first time homebuyers known as a CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) loan. CRA programs differ from bank to bank, but each offers benefits to purchasers who are eligible for the loan. One bank my offer an unbeatable interest rate while another may offer a grant toward closing costs. All of these CRA loans are zero-point, low-cost loans, meaning that borrowers pay minimal upfront costs – usually only an application fee.

What if my credit is not so great? Can I still be a part of this program?

Any future homebuyer must have good enough credit to qualify for a loan. This program does not offer you a way to obtain a mortgage with unpaid collections, judgments, or other delinquent balances. You can, and should, still participate in homebuyer education. It is never too early to start learning about the home purchase process and gain an understanding of what is involved.

We do help homebuyers understand their credit, but we cannot help anyone settle bad debts. If you require such assistance, you should also simultaneously seek credit counseling while you participate in this program.

How long will it take for me to purchase a home?

Each person and every situation is different. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need time to plan. Poor or complete lack of planning is what gets many unknowledgeable homebuyers into trouble. Be realistic. Don’t wait until one or two months before your lease is up to start thinking about buying a home.

Is the certificate I receive for completing the homebuyer education course only good for a certain amount of time?

It is up to the funding source to make this determination. Whether it is your mortgage lender or the source offering a grant or subsidy, the party giving the money makes the decision. Some programs, like the First Home Club, may specify at which point during the process you are to complete homebuyer education.

I am aware that there are other programs offered at no cost. Please explain the $25 registration fee.

We at The Affordable Homes Group would like to do everything possible to help first time homebuyers like you learn to make the best decisions when purchasing a home. We feel that you are entitled to these services, and for past 8 years have been providing them to you almost entirely at our own cost. Because of the increasing demand for pre-purchase counseling and the ever-growing numbers attending our seminars, it is simply impossible for us to continue to meet this need with the same quality of services and materials. In order for us to do so, we ask future buyers cover the cost of the curriculum and materials they are provided when attending the homebuyer education seminars. Delta Real Estate funds the remainder of our expenses, including one-on-one counseling services, which are still offered at no charge.

What makes this program especially right for me?

Home Start, Inc. is a Fannie Mae approved pre-purchase education provider. We have also been recognized by local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representatives, and had the regional director present in past seminars. We are approved by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for First Home Club counseling.

We use our own curriculum in our education seminars. We spent over six months developing the material when Home Start, Inc. began in 1996, and are constantly adding updated, corrected, and otherwise helpful information as the laws and practices affecting the lending and real estate markets change. In March 2003 we performed a major overhaul on our material, as a good deal had changed up to that time. Because the curriculum is something that we have compiled and written ourselves, we are very confident in the accuracy of the information we are providing. Our curriculum is a tool that serves as a helpful reference throughout the purchase process. We have had clients bring their book to the settlement table and refer to it as closing is taking place!

Home Start, Inc. partners with Delta Real Estate, another part of our non-profit organization. In addition to being education providers, the staff that work with Home Start, Inc. are also New Jersey licensed real estate salespersons and brokers. Our Broker of Record, Kent Pips, is now licensed by the state of New Jersey as a Real Estate Instructor, making him qualified to teach those becoming agents about real estate laws and practices. We are Realtors®, members of the National Association of Realtors. We work with clients every day in the real estate market. Our experience and knowledge is not developed simply in the classroom setting, but in the real world of home sales and purchases. When we say that we successfully represent clients from the very beginning to the very end, we mean it.

Back to Home Start, Inc.

Delta Real Estate Homes of Hope People First

The Salt & Light Co., Inc. Contact Us