Learn How - Portland Housing Center

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.

Open House

Out of an abundance of caution due to COVID-19, all in person Open House sessions in Portland and Beaverton are cancelled until further notice. Please review the PowerPoint below to learn more about services and if they may be a good fit for you.

Drop in for this 1-hour, low-stress session held at our Portland office at 6 pm on the 1^st 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 is an important part of onboarding you into our program and is designed to prepare you for your first counseling appointment with one of our HomeBuying Specialists. We’ll give you a brief overview of our first-time homebuyer’s program with a focus on budgeting, saving, and how to jumpstart your homebuying journey! Orientation is now being offered as a pre-recorded video presentation allowing new clients to participate from wherever they are, whenever it’s convenient for them. All new clients will receive a web link to watch the presentation shortly after they complete the registration process.

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. Please note: These classes have a limited capacity and tend to fill up quickly. Some dates listed here may already be full. You are welcomed to contact us to check availability before registering.

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 counseling 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.

Buying a home can be challenging.

Read more about how we can help you become a successful homeowner

Open House

Registration

Orientation

Homebuyer Assessment and Counseling

Financial Fitness Classes

Homebuying 101 Class

If you are not already in process on a home, we would encourage you to register for counseling services as your first step.

IDA Matched Savings

Loans

Homeowner Workshops

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Beaverton Office