Metro Interfaith Housing Counseling and the Binghamton Homeownership Academy are excited to announce the schedule of workshops for 2023.

Once again, we will be offering both Wednesday evening and Saturday morning workshops throughout the year. Find the session that works best for you and call Metro Interfaith Housing Counseling as soon as possible to learn more and to reserve your seat.

March 11, 18, 25 & April 1 & 8  (Saturday Mornings)

  April 20, 27 & May 4, 11 & 18  (Thursday Evenings)

  September 9, 16, 23, 30 & October 7  (Saturday Mornings)

  October 12, 19, 26 & November 2 & 9 ( Thursday Evenings)

 All WEDNESDAY EVENING Classes held 5:30-9:00 PM at Lincoln Court, 21 New St, Binghamton, NY.

 All SATURDAY Classes held 9:15 AM – 1:00 PM, location TBD, downtown Binghamton.

Call now to learn more and to reserve your seat, 607-723-0582

FOLLOWING THE FORBEARANCE, WHAT TO DO

Free Workshop offered by Metro Interfaith Housing Counseling

HUD APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY

Metro Interfaith in partnership with the City of Binghamton will be offering a free workshop to area homeowners who are completing their forbearance plans and want to know what to do next.

When:  December 16^th, 11:30 to 12:30

Where: Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton

Counselors will discuss how to work with servicers for the best possible outcome and provide information about New York State programs that are available to eligible homeowners.    

If you are interested in learning about the home buying process or require a home buyer certificate , we are providing one-on-one phone counseling in addition to our in-person classes.
Please call our offices, 607-723-0582 to schedule your sessions.

Fannie Mae: The Questions Homeowners Need Answered

in Daily Dose, Featured, Investment, Market Studies, News 1 day ago 201 Views

Consumers are still unsure of what is required to qualify for a mortgage, according to a recent study from Fannie Mae. “Despite increased exposure to credit scores and online resources, consumer understanding about what it takes to qualify for a mortgage has not improved since our original study in 2015,” Fannie Mae states. This means many potential homeowners may feel discouraged from buying a home.

The report, published by Fannie Mae’s Mark Palim, VP and Deputy Chief Economist and Sarah Shahdad, Market Insights Researcher, notes lenders, servicers, and other mortgage market participants must work toward increasing consumer knowledge. For example, despite the fact that consumers are now more likely than ever to check their credit scores, close to half still cannot recall what it is. Additionally, many overestimate the minimum credit score and down payment necessary to qualify for a mortgage, and remain unfamiliar with low down payment programs.

Palim and Shahdad note that this information indicates that current sources of mortgage education and information are insufficient, stating that “even those actively planning to become homeowners in the next few years (i.e., those who should be exposed to more information) are only slightly more confident or knowledgeable than others.”

Fannie Mae offers several methods for closing the knowledge gap, including improving the quality of mortgage education programs. Palim and Shahdad state that “effective mortgage education should be timely, customized, convenient, and simple.” This information should include multiple channels for consumers, from digital to in-person, as Fannie Mae’s research reveals that people prefer a mix of digital and human contact. According to Fannie Mae, mobile and online resources alone may not be sufficient to guide consumers through the complexities of preparing for and getting the right mortgage.

For the online portion of the mortgage process, mobile devices require optimization, as more and more buyers, especially younger buyers, are used to accessing financial services such as their bank from their phone.

“If potential borrowers have the information to assess and improve their own qualifications to get a mortgage, they may be encouraged not to give up on their homeownership aspirations prematurely,” Palim and Shahdad conclude.

https://dsnews.com/daily-dose/06-05-2019/closing-the-gaps-in-homeowner-knowledge

In addition to the 2017  FIRST TIME HOME BUYER CLASS SCHEDULE already announced, classes are now available in Chenango County, as well!

 Here is the complete 2017 schedule for classes in Binghamton AND Norwich:

FIRST SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• March 14, 21, 28 & April 4, 11

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton 

or

       TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• March 28, & April 4, 11

      @ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich

**************************************************** 

SECOND SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• May 2, 9, 16, 30 & June 6

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton 

****************************************************

THIRD SESSION:  SATURDAYS, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm:

• August 5, 12, 19, 26

@ Binghamton location: TBA (To Be Announced)

or

       TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• July 11, 18, 25

      @ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich

**************************************************** 

FOURTH SESSION:  SATURDAYS, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm:

• September 23, 30 & Oct 7, 14

@ Binghamton location: TBA (To Be Announced)

or

       TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• October 10, 17, 24

       @ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich 

*****************************************************

Light Supper Provided Each Night Class & Light Breakfast Provided Each Saturday Class

Contact the Homeownership Academy Coordinators for more info & to sign up:

Binghamton: Conant Smith 607.723.0723 ext. 311  or metro.csmith@stny.rr.com

Norwich: Cathy Berger 607.334.7114 ext. 4004   or cberger@ofcinc.org

In addition to the 2016  FIRST TIME HOME BUYER CLASS SCHEDULE already announced, classes are now available in Chenango County! (Note the changes to these dates)

FIRST SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• March 1, 8, 15, 29 & April 5th

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton 

or

THURSDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• April 14, 21, 28

@ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich 

SECOND SESSION:  SATURDAYS, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

• April 23, 30 & May 14, 21

@ First Niagara Homeownership Center, 112-122 State St., Binghamton

or

TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• May 10, 17, 24

@ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich 

THIRD SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• September 13, 20, 27 & Oct. 4, 11

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton

or

TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm:

• October 18, 25, & November 1

@ Quaranta Homeownership Academy, 44 W. Main St., Norwich 

Light Supper Provided Each Night Class & Light Breakfast Provided Each Saturday Class

Contact the Homeownership Academy Coordinators for more info & to sign up:

Binghamton: Conant Smith 607.723.0723, Ex. 311   metro.csmith@stny.rr.com

Norwich: Michele Clark 607.334.7114, Ex. 4006  mclark@ofcinc.org

Announcing

The BINGHAMTON HOMEOWNERSHIP ACADEMY

2016  FIRST TIME HOME BUYER CLASS SCHEDULE !

FIRST SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• March 1, 8, 15, 29 & April 5th

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton 

SECOND SESSION:  SATURDAYS, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

• April 23, 30 & May 14, 21

@ First Niagara Homeownership Center, 112-122 State St., Binghamton

THIRD SESSION:  TUESDAYS, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• September 13, 20, 27 & Oct. 4, 11

@ Metro Interfaith, 21 New St., Binghamton

Light Supper Provided Each Night Class & Light Breakfast Provided Each Saturday Class

Contact the Homeownership Academy Coordinator for more info & to sign up:

(607) 723-0723

Email: metro.csmith@stny.rr.com

Tuesday Night, Obtaining a Mortgage Night!!