Housing Counseling & Client Services

Becoming a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency Pt. 2

Are you considering becoming a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency? This decision will involve careful consideration, organization and planning. How do you determine if this is the right move for your agency and which HUD Housing Counseling designation fits your agency best? What services should you provide, and are there any you should avoid? What are the key elements to include in your Work Plan? This training will explore what is the commitment involved with being a HUD-approved agency, answer questions about the eligibility criteria and more, providing participants with an inside view of essential steps and criteria for obtaining HUD approval. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the requirements to submit an application to HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling, the review and approval process, and the strategies for success in becoming a HUD-Approved agency.Objectives:Determine the qualifying criteriaReview the application processConsider the agency’s work plan requirementsDiscuss the role of the IntermediaryDifferentiate housing counseling services

Becoming a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency Pt. 1

Are you considering becoming a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency? This decision will involve careful consideration, organization and planning. How do you determine if this is the right move for your agency and which HUD Housing Counseling designation fits your agency best? What services should you provide, and are there any you should avoid? What are the key elements to include in your Work Plan? This training will explore what is the commitment involved with being a HUD-approved agency, answer questions about the eligibility criteria and more, providing participants with an inside view of essential steps and criteria for obtaining HUD approval. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the requirements to submit an application to HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling, the review and approval process, and the strategies for success in becoming a HUD-Approved agency.Objectives:Determine the qualifying criteriaReview the application processConsider the agency’s work plan requirementsDiscuss the role of the IntermediaryDifferentiate housing counseling services

Rental Counseling 200: Empowering Low- to Moderate-Income Communities

This course is an advanced training program designed to deepen participants' knowledge and skills in rental counseling, specifically tailored to empower individuals and communities with limited-to-moderate income levels. This course delves into advanced strategies for addressing the unique challenges faced by renters in these income brackets. Participants will explore topics such as affordable housing options, financial literacy for renters, and community resources. The course aims to equip counselors with the expertise needed to provide targeted and impactful support to individuals seeking affordable and sustainable rental solutions.Learning Objectives:Explore advanced strategies and resources for assisting individuals in low-to moderate-income communities in finding affordable housing options that align with their financial capabilities.Addresses eligible activities: Rental Housing Counseling.

Rental Counseling 100: Mastering the Essentials for Effective Guidance

This webinar serves as a fundamental guide for housing counselors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist their clients towards positive rental outcomes. In this introductory course, participants will explore the core essentials of rental counseling, gaining insights into the intricacies of the rental market, tenant rights, and landlord-tenant dynamics. The curriculum is designed to empower housing counselors to provide effective guidance, addressing common challenges faced by renters and facilitating informed decision-making. Participants will leave with a solid foundation to navigate the rental landscape and offer valuable support to clients seeking rental solutions. This course sets the stage for an in-depth virtual learning experience that will further enhance participants' expertise in rental counseling and provide comprehensive insights into advanced topics within the realm of housing counseling.Learning Objectives:Understand essential elements of rental counseling, including the rental market, tenant rights, and landlord-tenant dynamics.Acquire skills to empower housing counselors in effective client guidance, addressing common renter challenges.Develop a solid foundation for navigating the rental landscape and supporting clients seeking rental solutions.Addresses eligible activities: Rental Housing Counseling.

Housing Options for Seniors

Explore the full range of housing choices for older adults—from aging in place to assisted living and emerging trends like ADUs and home sharing. This overview covers key client considerations, safety and accessibility needs, and cost comparisons to help counselors and professionals better support senior clients in making informed housing decisions.

Untangling Heirs’ Property: Practical Strategies for Housing Practitioners

Heirs’ property continues to be a significant barrier to generational wealth and housing stability, particularly in communities of color and rural areas. This webinar will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore the complexities of heirs’ property and strategies for supporting families affected by it. Panelists will include representatives from the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), sharing recent research on heirs’ property, and Affordable Homes of South Texas, a housing counseling agency actively helping families navigate these challenges. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of heirs’ property issues and practical tools for assisting clients.

Reverse Mortgage Basics for Housing Counselors

This interactive webinar introduces housing counselors to reverse mortgages with a focus on the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the history of the program, eligibility requirements, and loan features. We will explore both the benefits and the risks of reverse mortgage loans and provide practical tools and strategies to help you guide your clients to make informed financial decisions. This webinar is designed for both new and experienced housing counselors who want to strengthen their knowledge of reverse mortgages as a tool to support older homeowners. By the end of the session, participants will be better prepared to explain program details, evaluate client eligibility, and assist homeowners who may want to explore this option.

Bridging the Appraisal Gap: Strategies for Making Affordable Homeownership Transactions Work

Affordable homeownership can become difficult to achieve when the cost to build or purchase a home exceeds the amount a homebuyer can reasonably finance through an affordable first mortgage. This “appraisal gap” can create challenges for housing counselors, nonprofit housing developers, lenders, and homebuyers. This is especially true in low- and moderate-income communities where comparable sales may not adequately reflect the cost, quality, or value of newly constructed or improved homes. This 90-minute webinar will help HUD housing counselors and affordable housing professionals understand the appraisal process and explore practical strategies for addressing appraisal gaps in affordable homeownership transactions. We will touch briefly on the definition of appraisals and the difference between appraisals and inspections. We will also give a quick overview of the continuing fair housing issues in appraisal services today. The primary focus of this webinar discusses strategies for bridging the gap between the cost and value of an affordable home and the amount LMI borrowers can afford for their first mortgage and resulting PITI. Participants will explore how housing counselors and nonprofit housing developers can identify and stack available resources, including down payment assistance (DPA), grants, deferred or forgivable second mortgages, subsidized financing, state and local housing programs, and other public and private resources. Participants will examine examples of loan products and affordable homeownership programs that may permit the use of subordinate financing and layered assistance, as well as strategies developers can use to identify funding sources that help subsidize the cost of constructing or acquiring affordable homes. By the end of the webinar, participants will have a framework for helping homebuyers and affordable housing organizations understand appraisal-related challenges and identify potential resources and financing strategies to make affordable homeownership transactions financially feasible. Sue Ortiz is the Chief Programs Officer with Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and is the Executive Director of Fair Lending Services. She is also a consultant with NCRC and loves to create curriculum material and facilitate webinars, virtual, e-learning, and live trainings. Sue holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, and has numerous certifications in housing counseling and financial coaching.

Rental Housing Counseling: Practical Tools for Supporting Renters

This 90-minute webinar provides housing counselors with a foundation for delivering effective, client-centered rental housing counseling. Participants will explore HUD expectations and National Industry Standards for rental counseling, including intake and assessment, rental affordability, lease review, tenant and landlord responsibilities, fair housing, renters’ insurance, communication and conflict resolution, referrals, documentation, and action planning. The webinar will also examine common rental housing challenges, including rental delinquency, maintenance concerns, lease violations, disputes, displacement and potential eviction. Participants will have a framework for helping clients identify options and take timely action. Because landlord–tenant law varies significantly by state and locality, participants will learn about national principles and how to determine location-specific legal requirements. Counselors will be able to recognize when a matter requires legal expertise and given tools to develop reliable referral and resource networks. Using practical examples and counselor-focused concepts, participants will strengthen their ability to support renters in maintaining stable housing, resolving tenancy challenges and avoiding eviction whenever possible. By the end of the 90-minute webinar, participants will be able to: Describe the role and scope of rental housing counseling within HUD's Housing Counseling Program. Apply National Industry Standards to the structure of an effective rental counseling session. Assess a renter's housing situation, including affordability, income, expenses, housing needs and immediate risks. Explain common lease provisions and help clients understand their responsibilities and potential consequences of violating a lease. Identify common tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. Recognize fair housing concerns and potential discrimination in rental housing. Identify early warning signs of eviction risk and develop practical eviction-avoidance action steps. Determine when to provide information, when to make a referral, and when legal assistance is necessary. Develop a written action plan and appropriate follow-up for rental counseling clients. Sue Ortiz is the Chief Programs Officer with Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and is the Executive Director of Fair Lending Services. She is also a consultant with NCRC and loves to create curriculum material and facilitate webinars, virtual, e-learning, and live trainings. Sue holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, and has numerous certifications in housing counseling and financial coaching. She’s building a cabin in the woods in Northern Michigan.

Post Purchase Counseling for Long Term Housing Stability and Wealth Building

Maintaining a home and building lasting financial security requires ongoing planning, informed decision-making, and access to reliable resources. Post-purchase counseling provides an opportunity to help homeowners move beyond immediate housing concerns and consider their long-term financial well-being, wealth-building opportunities, and legacy goals. This interactive webinar will explore how housing counselors can support homeowners in developing strategies to sustain homeownership, strengthen financial resilience, manage mortgage and property-related expenses, build savings, and make informed decisions about using home equity. Participants will examine how financial planning, responsible saving and investing, home maintenance, insurance, and preparation for unexpected life events can contribute to long-term housing stability and wealth accumulation. We will also introduce ways counselors can help homeowners begin planning for the transfer of their homes and other accumulated assets to the people they love. We will discuss the importance of wills and other estate-planning tools, planning for heirs, and recognizing potential risks associated with inherited homes and heirs' property. Through interactive polls, scenario challenges and counselor-focused activities, participants will identify opportunities to incorporate long-term planning and wealth-building conversations into post-purchase counseling. Our goal is to support homeowners in protecting what they have worked hard to achieve, preparing for the future, and creating opportunities for lasting financial security across generations. Sue Ortiz is the Chief Programs Officer with Habitat for Humanity of Michigan and is the Executive Director of Fair Lending Services. She is also a consultant with NCRC and loves to create curriculum material and facilitate webinars, virtual, e-learning, and live trainings. Sue holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, and has numerous certifications in housing counseling and financial coaching. She’s building a cabin in the woods in Northern Michigan.

From Uncertainty to Ownership: Guiding Buyers Through Volatile Markets

Navigating today's housing market requires more than standard financial preparation, it demands resilience against economic headwinds and market volatility. This webinar provides housing counselors with actionable counseling strategies, risk-management frameworks, and HUD 7610.1-compliant tools to guide clients from initial hesitation to confident homeownership. Participants will explore techniques for evaluating client readiness, managing market anxiety, decoding economic indicators, and building sustainable, long-term action plans. Pamelia Harris is a strategic consultant delivering end-to-end advisory and implementation support to nonprofits, businesses, and community-based organizations. She partners with leadership to design, operationalize, and scale high-impact initiatives, strengthen governance and accountability, and build durable systems that advance housing counseling and community development outcomes. Her work also integrates crisis management, disaster preparedness, and recovery planning, ensuring organizations are equipped to navigate disruption while sustaining long-term impact.