Home Buyer Education Requirement for NCHFA Loan Pool Program Applicants:
Home ownership is both a great opportunity and a big responsibility. The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency wants you to not just buy a home but to be a successful homeowner.
Many borrowers complete an in-person or virtual home buyer education class offered by one of the Loan Pool Members.
However, borrowers can also complete an approved online course like eHome America, a pre-purchase education course based on NeighborWorks America’s acclaimed “Realizing the American Dream” curriculum.
Before starting eHome America, please contact a Loan Pool Member to make sure you are eligible to apply for CPLP or SHLP assistance and to discuss your home buyer education options.
NOTE: In addition to completing an approved home buyer education course, all loan pool borrowers must also complete at least 2 hours of one-on-one pre-purchase counseling.
Option for Taking Course in Spanish
Potential CPLP or SHLP borrowers have the choice to complete a Spanish-version of eHome America. Select the “Begin in Spanish” button (“Empezar en Espanol”) to register.
Exceeding the National Industry Standards for Home Ownership Education and Counseling, this HUD-approved course creates knowledgeable and default-resilient home buyers who are ready for a lifetime of home ownership. You will learn about the home buying process from start to finish, including how much house you can afford and protecting your investment. Let’s get started!
America's Premier Online Homebuyer Education Course
Learn how to:
Determine if homeownership is right for you
Shop for a home
Maintain your home
Certificate of completion presented to client and/or lender upon completion of counseling session with a homeownership advisor (if required).
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
Since 1974, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency has assisted thousands of North Carolinians in purchasing a home either through the Agency's mortgages or down payment assistance offered through preferred lenders or through nonprofit and local government community partners.
The home buyer programs offered by community partners include:
The Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) offers zero interest, subordinate mortgages that can reduce overall mortgage payments by up to 20% when combined with the Agency’s NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ from a participating lender or up to 10% when combined with a USDA Section 502 Loan. This assistance is only available to eligible buyers working with a CPLP member.
The Self-Help Loan Pool (SHLP) provides zero interest, first or second mortgages in partnership with North Carolina nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity that operate a self-help housing program. This assistance is only available to eligible borrowers buying a home from a SHLP Member.
The home buyer programs offered by lenders include:
The NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ which offers 30-year first mortgages with optional down payment assistance of 3% or 5% of the loan amount or $8,000 for first-time buyers or military veterans, and is available through participating lenders statewide.
The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit which enables first-time home buyers and military veterans to save up to $2,000 a year on their federal taxes with a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), and is available through participating lenders statewide.
For questions about the Agency’s home ownership programs, please contact us at:
