HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Services

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling requires HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agencies to provide Homebuyer Education and Housing Counseling (pre-purchase counseling) services within its Homebuyer Education program. Per the April 9, 2026, announcement from HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling, effective as of October 1, 2025, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies will no longer receive funding from HUD for pre-purchase housing counseling. Therefore, the in-person Group Homebuyer Education Classes are free; however, the cost for the pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling service is $380.00 per client for individuals and couples. At this time, we are offering our HUD-Approved housing counseling through telephone one-on-one housing counseling sessions only. Frameworks CDC’s Pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling sessions are offered in English and Spanish.

PURPOSE OF HUD-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES

The purpose of HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies is to help individuals and families obtain, sustain, and retain their homes through independent, expert guidance.

Core Objectives

  • Improve financial literacy: Teach budgeting, debt management, and credit building.
  • Expand opportunities: Help first-time buyers navigate the homebuying process and find assistance programs.
  • Preserve homeownership: Provide free or low-cost foreclosure prevention and mitigation strategies.
  • Support vulnerable groups: Guide low- to moderate-income renters & seniors considering reverse mortgages.

How It Works

  • Customized action plans: Counselors review your complete financial picture to create a personalized step-by-step strategy and plan for your unique financial situation.
  • Certified professionals: Services are delivered by experts certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) working through approved nonprofit agencies.
  • Independent Advice: Services come from vetted, nonprofit HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that act in your best interest without hidden fees.
  • Individual vs. Workshop: Counseling offers one-on-one tailored advice, distinct from general GROUP educational workshops.

Key Services Provided

  • First-Time Homebuying: Guidance on the homebuying process, mortgage options, and down payment assistance programs.
  • Financial Management: Customized budget creation, debt management, and credit-building strategies.
  • Foreclosure Prevention: Help for homeowners struggling to pay mortgages, negotiate with lenders, or avoid foreclosure.
  • Reverse Mortgage Counseling: Mandatory Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) counseling for older homeowners (COMING SOON).

GETTING STARTED: ACTION REQUIRED PRIOR TO SCHEDULING THE ONE-ON-ONE HOUSING COUNSELING SESSION

After completing the Pre-Purchase Online Homebuyer Education Class and prior to scheduling the one-on-one housing counseling session, the fee for the one-on-one housing counseling session and the tri-merge credit report must be paid. As noted above, the cost for the pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling service is $380.00 per client for individuals and couples. A tri-merge credit report is required for the pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session. Our third-party intermediary charges a fee for the report, and Frameworks CDC passes this fee on to the client. The report includes scores and account history from all 3 credit bureaus. Your tri-merge credit report will be “pulled” by Frameworks CDC when we receive confirmation of your payment from PayPal. The retrieval of this report is considered a “soft inquiry”, which means your credit scores will not be negatively impacted. You will receive a copy of the credit report during the week of your Pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session. The fee to obtain a credit report for an individual is $48.53. The fee to obtain a credit report for couples and families is $96.51. Credit reports are only available for Frameworks CDC clients participating in our Homebuyer Education and Counseling services. Upon receipt of your payment, it cannot be refunded.

Please Note: If you are working with a Lender, the lender’s tri-merge credit report may be provided to us as an alternative; however, the report MUST include all 3 credit bureaus, account history, and credit scores (if applicable), and the report is not older than 90 days from the date generated. Please let us know when scheduling your appointment if you will be providing a lender’s credit report.

Click the button below to pay the Pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling service fee and the tri-merge credit report (Frameworks CDC will order the tri-merge credit report if the client does not have a Lender tri-merge credit report before the one-on-one housing counseling).

Pre-Purchase One-on-One Housing Counseling Service Fee and Tri-Merge Credit Report fee for Individuals: $428.53

Buy Now button

Pre-Purchase One-on-One Housing Counseling Service Fee and Tri-Merge Credit Report fee for Couples: $476.51

Buy Now button

Pre-Purchase One-on-One Housing Counseling Service Fee. Click on the button below ONLY IF YOUR LENDER will provide you with the tri-merge credit report. This fee is for both Individuals and Couples: $380.00

Buy Now button

NEXT STEP: PREPARING FOR YOUR PRE-PURCHASE ONE-ON-ONE HOUSING COUNSELING SESSION (Document Submission and Payment for Housing Counseling Services and Credit Report):

After you have made payment for the Pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session and tri-merge credit report you will be contacted by Frameworks CDC to schedule your pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session, which will be followed up with an email. The email will provide a list of document that you will be required to submit, and will confirm the date of your Pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session. In addition, Frameworks CDC’s intake forms will be attached to the email which you will be required to comple, sign and date. The documents and the intake forms must be sent to Frameworks CDC no later than 3 business days before your appointment. You can email the documents to us at info@frameworkscdc.org or deliver them to our office.

Below is a sample of the document list that will be included in the email. The documents we ask for are the same documents that mortgage lenders require to apply for a mortgage loan. This information will help us determine whether you are mortgage-ready or in need recommendation to prepare to be mortgage ready. All participants will receive an Action Plan prepared by the Housing Counselor a few days after the completion of the pre-purchase one-on-one housing counseling session. A HUD housing counseling Action Plan is a personalized, written roadmap created by a HUD-approved counselor and a client to solve a specific housing or financial problem.

  • Social Security Card
  • Picture Identification Document
    • Examples: driver’s license, residency card, passport, etc.
  • Proof of Income
    • 1 full month of recent pay stubs or other source of income
    • Examples: court order for child support, proof of child support payments or disability payments, etc.
  • Bank Statements
    • 1 full month of recent bank statements
    • Checking and savings accounts
    • All institutions and all accounts
  • Other Income
    • Most recent statements
    • Examples: 401K, IRA, Keogh, retirement, pension fund accounts, etc.
  • Tax Returns
    • 1 most recent year filed tax return and all W-2s
    • If self-employed:
      • 2 most recent years filed tax returns, including all applicable schedules and W-9s
      • Most recent quarterly profit and loss report
  • Complete Budget and Disclosures
  • Loan Estimate and Signed Purchase Contract
    • If you are approved for a loan and you have signed a contract to purchase a home

Note: Participants who complete both the Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education Course and the Pre-Purchase One-on-One Housing Counseling Service will receive a complimentary NeighborWorks America Realizing the American Dream handbook.

Handbooks are available for pickup Monday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Out of respect for all potential participants and due to the high volume of registrants for our classes, Frameworks CDC maintains a “three strikes” policy.  This pertains to Pre-Purchase One-on-One Housing Counseling Sessions and future Group Pre-purchase Education Courses. Once you have cancelled/postponed your appointment and/or attendance for the third time within a 12 month period, Frameworks CDC will not reschedule you and you will not receive the Certificate of Completion for our program.