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Home Ownership

Pre-Purchase

The pre-purchase home ownership program has educated hundreds of people each year on the availability of a number of mortgage products and grants that allow home purchase with little or no money down. Through our services, people with no thought of ever having the opportunity to own a home, have fulfilled the American dream of home ownership.

Mortgage Products and Grants

Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. is continually involved in partnerships on loan programs, products, cities and locally owned businesses. Current partnerships include:

TOTO - Topeka Opportunity to Own

TOTO is intended to help Topeka residents become homeowners by providing education, financing and home rehabilitation. A homebuyer counselor will assist you through the entire process. If you are not eligible, we will let you know what needs to be done in order to qualify. Once your eligibility is confirmed you must attend home owner and maintenance education before looking for a home. Financing for the home purchase and repair will be provided by a participating lender Capitol Federal or Core First Bank and the City of Topeka Housing and Neighborhood Development. The lender will provide the first mortgage loan. The City will provide up to $20,000 for repair and purchase cost, or up to $30,000 for homes purchased in one of the four opportunity areas.

Requirements:

  • Purchase anywhere in the City of Topeka or in one of four opportunity areas
  • $500 for down payment
  • Sales price cannot go over $65,000
  • Cannot own real estate at time of closing
  • Credit readiness and approval
  • Budget evaluation will determine affordability
  • Attend a total of 12 hours of home buyer and maintenance training before closing
2010 HUD Median Annual Family Income Guidelines - 80% Area Median
Family Size One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight
Yearly Income ($) $34,350 $39,250 $44,150 $49,050 $52,950 $56,900 $60,800 $64,750

In-person & Telephone Counseling

A qualified housing counselor will help you with:

  • credit readiness
  • setting up a budget
  • financing options
  • grant opportunities
  • action plan to accomplish your goals
  • affordability
  • down payment
  • working with a lender
  • working with a realtor
  • selecting a home
  • offers and closings
  • home maintenance

By the end of the counsel, you'll be prepared to pursue home ownership and feel more confident about the entire home buying process. The session takes an average of 60-90 minutes and includes a homebuyer education certificate at completion. This certificate is necessary to access many of the financial assistance programs.

Fees and Forms

There is no fee for pre-purchase counseling.
What to prepare for your appointment:
These forms are in Adobe Reader files. If you don't have the software, download it free prior to attempting to access the files.

If you are attending your counseling session in person, bring the completed information listed above with you to your appointment. If you are conducting your session by phone, please return the completed information listed above to our office in advance of your appointment and keep a copy for yourself to refer to during the session.

Home Buyer and Maintenance Workshops

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Foreclosure Prevention - Mortgage Delinquency

Options are available for clients that are behind or expecting to become behind on mortgage payments. A Kansas Foreclosure Timeline and a list of Foreclosure Prevention Options are available. Options vary based on the reason for delinquency, type of mortgage, lender, servicing center, investor, and the home owner’s entire financial situation. HCCI counselors are trained and HUD certified to help you review and self-advocate for your options.

In-person & Telephone Counseling

A qualified housing counselor will help you with:

  • setting up a budget
  • credit report review
  • refinancing options
  • working with the lender and/or services
  • Kansas foreclosure timeline
  • foreclosure prevention options
  • affordability
  • action plan to accomplish your goals

By the end of the counsel, you'll be prepared to pursue a plan of action and feel more confident about the foreclosure prevention process. The session takes an average of 90 minutes and sometimes requires more than one session.

Fees and Forms

There is no fee for foreclosure prevention counseling.
What to prepare for your appointment:
These forms are in Adobe Reader files. If you don't have the software, download it free prior to attempting to access the files.

If you are attending your counseling session in person, bring the completed information listed above with you to your appointment. If you are conducting your session by phone, please return the completed information listed above to our office in advance of your appointment and keep a copy for yourself to refer to during the session.

Reverse Mortgages

A Reverse Mortgage allows homeowners to receive money to supplement income, meet medical needs or home repair. Reverse mortgages can be used by home owners age 62 and older to convert the equity in their home into monthly streams of income and/or a line of credit to be repaid when they no longer occupy the home. Reverse Mortgage loans are provided by limited lenders listed on the HUD website (Make sure to check the HECM box, and choose a lender within your location radius to narrow the search.) Counseling with an Exam Qualified Counselor is required for a reverse mortgage and there are specific age, home equity and value qualifications, call for an initial interview to see if you qualify. To find a HECM counselor, visit the FHA HECM Roster or call (800) 569-4287.

Information you will be asked during the initial phone interview includes:

  • Street Address of house involved
  • Dates of birth for all names listed on home
  • Approximate amount currently owed on mortgage, if any
  • Approximate current value of home

In-person & Telephone Counseling

A qualified housing counselor will help you with:

  • setting up a budget
  • financing options
  • working with a lender
  • offers and closings
  • home maintenance
  • action plan to accomplish your goals

By the end of the counsel, you'll be better prepared to make a decision about a reverse mortgage and feel more confident about the entire process. The session takes an average of 60-90 minutes and includes a HUD certificate at completion. This certificate is necessary to be approved for a reverse mortgage loan.

Fees and Forms

There is a $125 fee for reverse mortgage counseling. Grant funding for this fee is sometimes available and other payment arrangements are possible.
What to prepare for your appointment: These forms are in Adobe Reader files. If you don't have the software, download it free prior to attempting to access the files.

If you are attending your counseling session in person, bring the completed information listed above with you to your appointment. If you are conducting your session by phone, please return the completed information listed above to our office in advance of your appointment and keep a copy for yourself to refer to during the session.