HousingSmarts

Buying a home and avoiding foreclosure can be confusing. HousingSmarts is a free homebuyer training that will put you on the right track for homeownership. Completion of this training satisfies the homebuyer education component of our other financial empowerment programs.

Please click here for our flyer in English and Spanish.

HousingSmarts for first-time homebuyers (pre-purchase) uses the NeighborWorks® "Realizing the American Dream" curriculum, a nationally recognized homebuyer education course.

FREE services include:

Homebuyer Education
- Assessing Your Readiness to Buy and Money Management
- Understanding Credit and Obtaining a Mortgage
- Shopping for a Home and Protecting your Investment
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
Individual One-on-One counseling for HousingSmarts graduates
Graduates may be eligible for our Down Payment Assistance program

Am I eligible?

I am a first time homebuyer, recently displaced, or divorced
I live within Austin city limits
My household income is at or below 80% of Austin's median family income
City of Austin employees (regardless of income) can sign up on TRAIN

If you need to take a Home Buyer Education class before our next available date, on a Saturday, or in Spanish, please consider Frameworks. Their schedule is here or if you need a version in Spanish, click here. BCL of Texas also offers classes.

View the HousingSmarts schedule and registration form. To reserve your spot, send in this registration form via mail to the address listed on the form, by e-mail, or call 512-974-3100 for more information. Applications must be recieved and processed at least 48 hours in advance of the class. Complete applications are processed in the order they are recieved and in order of class dates. Once your application has been processed, you will be notified via email if you've been approved, denied, or we need more information.