Buying a home, whether it's your first or not, can be a daunting experience to many. Deciding when to buy, preparing financially, improving credit or addressing other challenges if necessary, all can take time and patience.
Below are some educational resources that may inspire and guide you on your journey and help set you up for success as a homeowner.
Watch real homebuyer success stories, learn more about the homebuying and mortgage process in general, and much more on the GSFA YouTube Channel!
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Our outreach team provides support and expertise at a variety of events, including workshops, seminars, homebuyer fairs, real estate meetings and affordable housing related conferences.
Below are upcoming events to help homebuyers and industry partners understand and utilize the GSFA homeownership programs.
Are you looking for support materials and/or a GSFA panelist or speaker at an educational or industry event? Send us a request and we will review staff availability and services.
Watch real-life success stories of individuals and families who became homeowners through the GSFA down payment assistance programs. Listen to a variety of challenges they may have faced and how they overcame these challenges to achieve the dream of homeownership.
“With the way the market is, sometimes that can even be the difference whether or not you can even get something because when the values are going up so much if you need to wait two years to save up you might end up getting priced out. It definitely helped to accelerate the process or even make it possible.” - Michael Pluguez
“You are never too old to get into homeownership. Sometimes we are hard on ourselves. It could be good to push [sic], or it could be bad, depending on how hard you are on yourself. Just keep going. Put one foot in front of the other.” - Tanya Hildreth
Several organizations provide counseling and education for individuals and families looking to purchase a home in California. Below are some of the resources and services for homebuyers provided by related industry providers.
Note: By clicking on the links below you will be redirected to the provider's website. The terms and conditions of these third-party websites may be different from gsfahome.org and will govern your use of such websites.
The nationwide network of HUD participating housing counseling agencies have been helping consumers across America for more than 50 years by providing the answers they need to make informed housing decisions.
Want to know more about managing money or building good credit? Learn with Essentials while you set your goals and track your progress. Essentials does not satisfy homeownership education requirements. Complete Homebuyer U (link below) if you need a certificate to qualify for a mortgage.
Need a certificate to qualify for a HomeOne® or Home Possible® mortgage? Want to take a deep dive into homeownership? It all starts here. Learn about bringing your credit up and keeping it there.
Get ready for homeownership with Readynest by MGIC Buying your first home can be daunting. We're here to break down the process, so you feel ready to spread your wings. We hope our tips, tools and stories will help you find, afford and love a home of your own.
From loan officers to the general public, many people do not fully understand the benefits of mortgage insurance (MI), or how MI can be used to get borrowers into a home faster.