HUD-Approved Homebuyer Counseling
Homebuyer Counseling
Work one-on-one with a HUD-certified housing counselor to understand affordability, credit readiness, cash-to-close needs, and the steps between preparing to buy and maintaining a home.
Housing counseling support hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern Time.
Request homebuyer counseling
Submit the form to request a session. Money Fit will review your information and follow up with scheduling and preparation details. Submitting a request does not obligate you to enroll in another program or use a particular lender or housing provider.
Your information stays with Money Fit. Money Fit uses the information you submit for counseling-related follow-up and documentation. Avoid including information you do not want in your counseling file. Review the Privacy Policy.
A personal review of homebuying readiness, affordability, and next steps
Homebuyer counseling is a live, one-on-one session that connects the home purchase to the household budget. A counselor reviews your goals, income, expenses, debts, credit information, savings, and available housing documents so you can better understand what is affordable and what may need attention before moving forward.
Counseling can also help meet a lender, down payment assistance, or housing program requirement when the applicable counseling steps are completed. It does not guarantee mortgage approval, a particular interest rate, down payment assistance, or acceptance by a lender or program.
Counseling through a HUD-approved nonprofit agency
Money Fit is operated by Debt Reduction Services, Inc., a nonprofit housing counseling agency approved to participate in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. The counselor’s role is to help you understand the decision, prepare responsibly, and develop an action plan based on your circumstances.
Money Fit is not a mortgage lender, real estate brokerage, or down payment assistance provider. You can learn more about HUD housing counseling through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What homebuyer counseling includes
The session focuses on the decisions and financial details that affect readiness for homeownership.
Goals and requirements
Discuss what you are trying to accomplish, your expected timeline, and any lender, program, or certificate requirement.
Affordability and budget
Review income, expenses, debts, savings, cash-to-close needs, and the ongoing costs of owning and maintaining a home.
Credit and debt picture
Identify credit report information and monthly debt obligations that may affect eligibility, loan pricing, or timing.
Homebuyer action plan
Leave with organized next steps, questions to ask, documents to gather, and a practical path toward your housing goal.
Education and resources
Review relevant education, housing resources, and areas that deserve more attention before signing a contract or loan documents.
Completion documentation
Receive a counseling certificate or other completion documentation when required steps are completed and the program permits it.
What to expect after submitting the form
Submitting a request does not obligate you to enroll in another Money Fit service or use a particular lender, real estate professional, or housing program.
Money Fit reviews the request
The housing team identifies the service requested and any documents or program requirements that should be discussed before scheduling.
The session is scheduled
Counseling is generally completed by phone or video when available. Most sessions are scheduled for approximately 60–90 minutes.
You meet with the counselor
The counselor reviews affordability, credit readiness, costs, documents, and your questions in a clear, practical conversation.
You receive the next steps
Money Fit provides an action plan and applicable completion documentation when counseling requirements have been met.
What to have ready for counseling
Start with what you have. Missing documents do not prevent you from requesting counseling, but complete information can make the session more useful.
- Recent income information and a reasonable estimate of monthly household expenses
- Current debts, minimum payments, and available credit report information
- Your expected down payment, savings, and other funds available for closing
- Loan estimates, lender requests, program documents, or a mortgage denial letter when applicable
- Your homebuying timeline, housing goals, and questions for the counselor
The lender’s approval amount and your affordable payment are not always the same
A mortgage calculation may not fully reflect repairs, utilities, commuting costs, childcare, medical needs, future savings, or the way a household actually lives. Those costs still matter after closing.
Homebuyer counseling creates room to examine the complete budget before a purchase becomes difficult to reverse. The purpose is not to push the largest possible loan. It is to help you understand what stable homeownership could require.
Request one-on-one homebuyer counseling
Share the information you have now. Money Fit will review your request, explain what to prepare, and help schedule the appropriate counseling session.
Frequently asked questions
Who is homebuyer counseling for?
Homebuyer counseling is for first-time and repeat buyers who want help understanding affordability, credit readiness, housing costs, and next steps. It can also help people who need counseling to satisfy a lender, housing program, or down payment assistance requirement.
How long does a homebuyer counseling session take?
Most sessions are scheduled for approximately 60–90 minutes. The actual time depends on your questions, documents, financial situation, and any counseling requirements that must be completed.
How much does homebuyer counseling cost?
One-on-one pre-purchase homebuyer counseling costs $149. A fee waiver may be available for households with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Ask about waiver eligibility during follow-up.
What should I have ready?
Bring available income and expense information, current debt payments, savings or down payment information, and any lender or housing program documents. If you do not have everything yet, request counseling with what you know and Money Fit can explain what else may be needed.
Will I receive a homebuyer counseling certificate?
Money Fit can provide a counseling certificate or other completion documentation when the applicable counseling requirements are completed. Confirm with your lender or housing program that the counseling and certificate will satisfy its specific rules.
Does counseling guarantee mortgage approval or down payment assistance?
No. Homebuyer counseling can help you understand readiness, organize documents, and prepare questions, but Money Fit does not approve loans or guarantee mortgage approval, interest rates, down payment assistance, or acceptance by a lender or program.
Is homebuyer counseling the same as a homebuyer education course?
No. Homebuyer counseling is a one-on-one review of your circumstances and goals. A homebuyer education course provides broader instruction in a class or self-paced format. Some lenders or housing programs require one, the other, or both.
