Our HUD-Certified Housing Counselors can help with identifying available resources to determine rent affordability and sustainability. Counselors can help you understand monthly budgeting, good rental practices and learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. We are here to help you every step of the way, at no cost to you!
HECM Counseling
Both Online & In-Person
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loans are federally insured reverse mortgage products that help seniors (62+) access the equity in their homes without having to sell their homes.
If your lender has asked you to complete HECM Counseling as a condition of your loan or you are exploring a Reverse Mortgage a Loan, NWOC offers this line of service offered by our HUD Certified HECM Counseling Team in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. For more information call 714.490.1250 X4 or email us at hecm@nwoc.org.
*The fee of $125 is waived for California Residents, subject to available grant funding.
FREE Mortgage Delinquency & Default Counseling
Both Online & In-Person
A HUD-Approved Certified Housing Counselor is a trained professional who can guide you on the choices that may be available to prevent foreclosure. Each mortgage servicer and investor may offer borrowers alternative solutions that have different eligibility requirements. Every situation and solution is unique!
FREE Pre-Purchase Counseling
Both Online & In-Person
Home ownership transforms lives, increasing families’ and individuals’ access to financial stability and wealth. Our HUD Certified Counselors will provide homebuyers with a thorough assessment; understanding debt, credit, down payment programs with the goal of getting you mortgage ready from beginning to end.
What Documents Do I Need?
These are also the documents you need to apply for a loan. If you have trouble finding any of these documents, reach out to the source. For tax returns, reach out to whatever service helped you file, and for bankruptcy documents, try reaching out to the court where your case was heard.
- Three most current and consecutive pay stubs
- Three most current, consecutive, and complete bank statements
- Three most current and consecutive tax returns; Federal & State with W-2 and/or 1099 forms
- Current Profit and Loss if self-employed
8-Hour HUD Approved Homebuyer Education Class
Virtual
This virtual course is scheduled on Saturday’s from 8:30am – 4:30pm and geared for first time homebuyers who will be purchasing within one year, are currently in escrow or wanting to get a better understanding of the homebuying process. This HUD Approved Class is $30 per person with registration deadline three days prior to the scheduled course.
Key information on budgeting, credit, lending, real estate process, title, insurance and down payment assistance are covered. A certificate of completion, valid for one year, is provided upon verification of the online intake and all necessary information provided.
2026 Dates
Saturday, September 19, 2026 (English)
Saturday, October 17, 2026 (English)
Saturday, November 14, 2026 (English)
Saturday, December 12, 2026 (English)
eHome America Certificate Course
Online
Take this Advanced Homebuyer Education Certificate Course at your own pace through the eHome America platform.
eHome America’s is a certified web-based program for prospective homebuyers.
Important: If you are taking this course because you lender requires a certificate, please confirm your lender accepts the eHome America certificate. Not all lenders accept this certificate.
- 24/7, from any internet-enabled device
- $100 per person, non-refundable
NeighborWorks Homeownership Empowerment Initiative
Virtual
The NeighborWorks Homeownership Empowerment Initiative (NHEI) is designed to narrow the homeownership gap, increase wealth building, expand access to quality housing with a focus on affordability and sustainability with down payment assistance.
This 90-minute virtual webinar starts at 5:45 pm on the second Tuesday of every month with community lending partners providing an overview of down payment assistance programs and an introduction to homebuying; credit, lending and fundamentals of homebuying is presented. Registration is required. The link to this webinar is emailed prior to the scheduled date, one registration per person.
Please note that by registering for the webinar you acknowledge and understand that this class does not provide a certificate.
2026 Dates
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove, HSBC, and Cornerstone First Mortgage.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 Featuring City of Garden Grove
Financial Literacy Program
Both Online & In-Person
In an effort to empower NeighborWorks Orange County (NWOC) families with financial literacy education, the Financial Literacy Program is geared to promote sound financial management which is aligned with the mission and vision of NWOC to attain financial benchmarks. A series of financial literacy topics are offered both in-person or via webinar to non-profit community partners in English, Spanish or Vietnamese.
The goal is to teach financial literacy topics in a holistic approach. The topics offered are:
- Banking
- Budgeting
- Credit
- Identify Theft
- Homebuying 101
Classes/webinars are 45-minutes to an hour with resources provided to compliment the topic. To schedule a workshop or webinar, our team can be reached at 714.490.1250 X3 by phone or education@nwoc.org via email.
