Home Buying Services | Portland Housing Center

Home Buying Services

Your life is about to change. The more you know about the home buying process, the more this change will affect you positively and the more confident you will be in the market place. While few things compare to the feeling of owning your first home, the same sense of accomplishment results from attending our HomeOwner Basics program. This program is designed to transform you into a more intuitive and savvier homeowner. Our HomeOwner Basics program incorporates the following core components:

  • Orientation
  • HomeBuyer Assessment
  • Financial Fitness
  • HomeBuying 101
  • HomeBuyer Counseling
  • Individual Development Account Match Savings Program
  • Pre-Closing Meeting and Loan Document Review
  • HomeOwner Workshops

ORIENTATION

Free Orientation Sessions
The steps to your future begin with a free one-hour orientation that serves as a universal platform to answer any of your questions or concerns. Typically, these questions and concerns range from: “What if I have credit problems?” “How much house can I afford?” “What if I have little or no down payment?” or “How do I find a realtor I can trust?” Our orientations are offered on the first three Wednesday evenings of every month from 6pm to 7pm at the Portland Housing Center office, conveniently located at 3233 NE Sandy Blvd. No advanced registration is required. Should you need more information on our Orientation sessions, please call: (503) 282-7744 x101.

We understand that you’re busy and we respect your schedule. For the sake of convenience, we now offer the same Orientation on-line. The Orientation acts as a gateway into the services we offer.

To further your education on buying a home, click on the “Register for Classes” link above.

HOMEBUYER ASSESSMENT

After your registration, one of our helpful Portland Housing Center staff members will review your income, employment, and debt and credit information to determine the best route to success. The purpose of the HomeBuyer Assessment is to form a well-rounded understanding of your individual situation. This process will take approximately 3 to 5 business days before it is fully complete. Upon successful review, we will contact you with our recommendations to begin the home buying process.

FINANCIAL FITNESS

Our Financial Fitness series includes four, two-hour sessions, focusing on all aspects of your financial well-being. Subject matter includes: values and money, financial goal setting, effective budgeting, understanding credit reports and scores, determining how much you can safely borrow, and protecting yourself from predatory loans.

HOMEBUYING 101

Knowledge is power. With our HomeBuying 101 class we provide you with the tools to understand the holistic home buying process. Our HUD-certified, 8-hour class is where experienced industry professionals teach you what you need to know. The interactive environment allows for your home buying questions to be answered. This class is always in demand and pre-registration is required.
Topics include: Preparing for Home Purchase, Shopping for a Loan, Special Programs for 1st time Homebuyers, Shopping for your Home, Inspecting and Insuring your Home, and Maintaining and Protecting your Investment.

HOMEBUYER COUNSELING

The Portland Housing Center offers one-on-one meetings with our HomeBuying Specialists to create a detailed plan suited for your individual needs. Each HomeBuying specialist is certified through NeighborWorks America and meets the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. For more information visit: www.homeownershipstandards.com

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM

As an Oregon resident, you may be eligible to an Individual Development Account (IDA) or a Matched Savings Account. These accounts help you save money to buy your first home, matching what you save by as much as 3:1. The minimum criteria for these accounts include: holding residency in Oregon, producing a household income at or below 80% of the current Portland area median (see annual income information below), and the ability to save a minimum of $50 dollars per month.
Click here to download the IDA Flyer. For additional information about this program call: (503) 282-7744 x103. This program is made possible by the State of Oregon IDA program.
To apply for an IDA, download an application:

2009 IDA Maximum Income Criteria:
Household size: Annual Income:
1 $39,200
2 $44,800
3 $50,400
4 $56,000
5 $60,500
6 $64,950
7 $69,450
8 $73,900

PRE-CLOSING MEETING AND DOCUMENT REVIEW

Before venturing into the world of home ownership, we want you to feel confident and knowledgeable. A loan consultation with your Portland Housing Center HomeBuying Specialist will ensure you are receiving the best loan based on your qualifications, while also thoroughly explaining the terms and conditions. At this meeting, you will be given tips for new homeowners and any questions you have will be answered.

HOMEOWNER WORKSHOPS

Congratulations on owning your first home! Home ownership is an accomplishment that gives you and your family a sense of stability, security, and pride. The Portland Housing Center provides HomeOwner Workshops that value the hard work that goes into buying your first home. We know that this process never ends and provide these workshops to protect your investment through comprehensive courses on home maintenance, repair and tax issues for new homeowners. To find out about upcoming workshops call: (503) 282-7744 x101.