Buying a home can be challenging.
At Portland Housing Center, we help you buy a home you can afford in the short- and long-term. We’ll help match you to the services you need to become a successful homeowner.
Read more about how we can help you become a successful homeowner
Open House
Drop in for this 1-hour, low-stress session held at our Portland office at 6 pm on the 1st Wednesday of every month and at our Beaverton office the second Tuesday of every month. Bring your questions and learn about our programs.
Can’t make it in person? Look at our non-interactive online open house! Download the PHC Open House PowerPoint presentation. Para hacer una cita en español, llama por favor a (503) 797-5010.
See orientation schedule for more details on upcoming sessions.
Note: coming to an Open House or viewing the Open House online does not register you for Portland Housing Center’s services. To do that, you need to click on the “Register Here” link or mail or bring your completed registration package to the Portland Housing Center office.)
Registration
When you’re ready to begin, register here, or print out the registration form (in English or Spanish), fill it out, and mail or bring it in to our office.
Registration allows Portland Housing Center staff to assist you with the services that best fit your needs and home ownership goals. The Portland Housing Center charges each household a $99.00 non-refundable materials fee at registration, which covers all of our in person classes and counseling, and the cost of your tri-merged credit report.
Remember—attending or viewing the Orientation online does NOT register you for Portland Housing Center services. To do that, you must click on the “Register Here” link, or mail or bring your completed registration package to the Portland Housing Center office.
Orientation
This 90-minute orientation gives you a jump start in preparing for your homebuying journey! Held at 6pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in our Portland office, newly registered clients will dive into budgeting, affordability, understanding credit, and get an overview of our down payment assistance programs and lending products.
Note: You will be auto-enrolled in the next available orientation after your register in addition to any counseling, education or lending services you schedule.
Homebuyer Assessment and Counseling
Once you’re registered, we’ll ask you a few short questions to help you determine your next steps. For many, this next step is to meet with one of our HomeBuying Specialists for an assessment, where you’ll build your action plan for homeownership. After you register you’ll be prompted to schedule your first appointment using our online scheduling program.
One on one meetings with a HomeBuying Specialist can help you develop an Action Plan and overcome any challenges that might be keeping you from purchasing a home. Our HomeBuying Specialists start by reviewing your financial situation to help develop your Action Plan. They can help you develop a plan to strengthen credit, pay down debts, increase your savings, and budget for homeownership.
Each HomeBuying Specialist is certified by NeighborWorks America and meets the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. (For more information visit: www.homeownershipstandards.com)
Financial Fitness Classes
This 5-part series gives you the money management skills and tools you need to get ready to purchase your first home. Topics covered include budgeting your money, building your savings, and improving your credit.
Portland Housing Center also offers culturally specific versions of our Financial Fitness class for African American and Latino households. Getting Your House in Order, created by and for African Americans is offered quarterly in our Portland office. Decide Tu Futuro, created by and for Latinos is held quarterly in Washington County. For more information on these classes, call our office at 503-282-7744.
Full Schedule Here.
Homebuying 101 Class
This 8-hour, HUD-certified class will show you what to expect in the home-buying process, including shopping for a loan, special programs for first-time homebuyers, the house search, inspecting and insuring your home, and maintaining and protecting your investment.
This course is also available online.
If you are already in process with a closing date on your home and just need the online course, Go to our Register Here page to get started. Be sure to click the link toward the bottom that says “Already in process on a loan and just need the online class?” After confirming your closing information, the link will take you directly to the class instructions. The online course has a total cost of $125 with $75 paid directly to the online course vendor.
If you are not already in process on a home, we would encourage you to register for services as your first step.
Upcoming Class Schedule here.
IDA Matched Savings
This matched savings program helps Oregon residents save for a home purchase in a special account. Qualified participants who are accepted into the program save in a special account for a minimum of 6 months and have their saved dollars matched 3:1.
Typical Portland Housing Center IDA program participants save $2,000 over a two-year period and receive a $6,000 match. Ask your HomeBuying Specialist if you qualify for this program.
Loans
Your chance to sit down with a licensed, Portland Housing Center Loan Officer to determine how much you can comfortably afford to spend on your home purchase, and to review the mortgage loan options most suitable for you.
At Portland Housing Center, we specialize in safe, affordable, fixed-rate mortgages. We also offer special programs to home buyers, including FHA (insured by the Federal Housing Administration), VA (for current and former members of the military), USDA (rural home loans), and our Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) which makes homeownership affordable through low monthly payments and 100% financing, and the IDA matched savings program. We also offer refinance options.
To get started, register for services.
Homeowner Workshops
Portland Housing Center offers homeowners several classes and seminars throughout the year on tax issues, home maintenance, and other topics. Watch your email for invitations to these valuable classes.
Want details about upcoming Homeowner workshops? Call us: (503) 282-7744.
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Contact Us
Phone: (503) 282-7744
Hours: 9 am-5pm, Monday to Friday
Portland Office
3233 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
We’re on the #12 TriMet bus line.
Here’s a map of our Portland location.
Beaverton Office
4900 SW Griffith Dr, Suite 123
Beaverton, OR 97005
Here’s a map of our Beaverton location.
Vancouver Office
lending services by appointment only
2306 NE Andresen Road
Vancouver, WA 98661
In the SHARE building.
Here’s a map of our Vancouver location.