HUD-Approved Housing Counseling
Housing Counseling and Homebuyer Support
Money Fit provides HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling and education to help individuals and families understand housing costs, responsibilities, documents, and possible next steps.
Housing counseling helps you understand your options before making a housing decision
A housing counselor can help you review income, expenses, debts, credit information, housing documents, and goals. Depending on your situation, counseling may focus on buying a home, maintaining homeownership, preparing to reapply after a mortgage denial, preventing foreclosure, understanding a reverse mortgage, or meeting required counseling rules for certain loan products.
Counseling does not guarantee mortgage approval, foreclosure prevention, rental assistance, down payment assistance, lender approval, landlord action, or program eligibility. Available options depend on your situation, documents, lender or landlord policies, program rules, and timing.
Housing counseling through a HUD-approved agency
Money Fit is operated by Debt Reduction Services, Inc., a nonprofit housing counseling agency approved to participate in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. HUD-certified housing counselors provide independent education and guidance based on the client’s housing needs and financial circumstances.
You can learn more about HUD housing counseling or search participating agencies through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What housing counseling covers
Money Fit provides housing counseling and education for several common housing needs.
- Pre-purchase and first-time homebuyer counseling
- Post-purchase homeownership counseling
- Mortgage readiness counseling after a mortgage denial
- Mortgage delinquency and foreclosure prevention support
- Reverse mortgage, or HECM, counseling
- HOEPA counseling for certain high-cost mortgages
- Housing stability budgeting and financial education
Choose the housing service that fits your situation
If you already know what you need, go directly to the appropriate counseling or education option. If you are unsure, use the housing counseling request form and Money Fit can help clarify the right starting point.
How counseling and education are delivered
Many services can be completed remotely, allowing clients across the United States to work with Money Fit’s housing counseling team.
One-on-one counseling
Counseling sessions may be held by phone or video, with email used for documents and follow-up when appropriate.
Online education
Self-paced courses can cover homebuyer readiness, budgeting, credit, housing responsibilities, and maintaining a home.
Workshops and webinars
Live or recorded sessions provide general education on housing decisions and household financial stability.
Follow-up support
Depending on the service, counseling can include document review, a household budget, an action plan, education steps, and follow-up communication.
Bring enough information to see the full housing picture
The exact documents depend on the service. These three groups of information give the counselor a practical place to begin.
Income and household expenses
Gather recent income information and a clear estimate of housing, food, transportation, insurance, medical, childcare, and other recurring costs.
Housing and account documents
Bring the mortgage, lease, lender notices, loan estimates, denial letter, credit information, or reverse mortgage materials connected to your question.
Your goal and questions
Write down what you are trying to decide, any deadlines you face, and the questions you want answered before taking the next step.
Housing counseling fees
Some housing counseling services and education programs have a nominal fee. Fees depend on the service provided. Money Fit does not charge a fee for foreclosure prevention counseling or homelessness counseling.
Fees may be waived for households with income at or below 150% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. Review the current HHS poverty guidelines or ask about a waiver during follow-up.
Housing decisions work best when the full budget is visible
Housing questions rarely stand alone. A mortgage payment, rent payment, homebuyer plan, reverse mortgage decision, or mortgage readiness plan sits inside a larger budget with income, debts, savings, insurance, repairs, transportation, medical costs, and family needs.
Money Fit’s role is to help you review the details clearly, ask better questions, and understand the next responsible steps before making a housing or financial decision.
What Money Fit does not provide
- Direct financial assistance: Money Fit does not provide emergency housing funds, rent payments, utility payments, or other monetary assistance.
- Legal advice or representation: Money Fit does not provide legal services or represent consumers in eviction, foreclosure, or other legal matters.
- Loans or mortgages: Money Fit is not a lender and does not broker, originate, or issue mortgage loans or reverse mortgages.
- Section 8 vouchers: Money Fit does not issue Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact your local Public Housing Agency for eligibility and application information.
Request housing counseling
Complete the form so Money Fit can review your request and follow up with the appropriate next steps. If you are not sure which service applies, select the closest match and the housing team can clarify it with you.
Your information stays with Money Fit. Money Fit uses the information you provide to respond to your housing counseling request and does not sell it or send it to a marketplace of lenders or housing companies. If a disability, language barrier, or other access need requires a different way to complete the form or receive counseling information, call (855) 685-7838 to request an accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
How does Money Fit deliver housing counseling and education?
Money Fit provides one-on-one housing counseling by phone or video, with email used for documents and follow-up when appropriate. Online education, workshops, and webinars are also available. The format depends on the service and program requirements.
What areas does Money Fit serve for HUD-approved programs?
Money Fit provides HUD-approved housing counseling and education services nationwide. Many services are delivered remotely, allowing clients across the United States to work with the housing counseling team.
Are there income requirements for housing counseling services?
There are no general income limits for accessing Money Fit housing counseling and education. Some fees may be waived for households with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Are there fees for housing counseling services?
Some services have a nominal fee. Pre-purchase homebuyer counseling is $149, HOEPA counseling is $119, reverse mortgage counseling is $159, and the Approval Ready Mortgage Preparation Program has a $149 enrollment fee and a $99 monthly fee while actively participating. Money Fit does not charge for foreclosure prevention counseling or homelessness counseling.
What is mortgage readiness counseling?
Mortgage readiness counseling, including the Approval Ready Mortgage Preparation Program, is designed for people preparing to reapply after a mortgage denial. It can include a budget review, credit report discussion, debt review, education steps, and preparation for a future lender conversation. It does not guarantee mortgage approval.
Does housing counseling guarantee mortgage approval or housing assistance?
No. Housing counseling can help you understand your options, prepare questions, review your budget, and organize next steps. It does not guarantee mortgage approval, foreclosure prevention, rental assistance, down payment assistance, lender approval, landlord action, or program eligibility.
Does Money Fit provide emergency housing funds or eviction legal help?
No. Money Fit does not provide direct financial assistance, emergency relief funds, legal advice, or legal representation. Housing counselors can provide budgeting and housing guidance, but immediate financial assistance and legal matters require the appropriate local agency, legal aid organization, or qualified attorney.
Does Money Fit offer mortgages, reverse mortgages, or Section 8 vouchers?
No. Money Fit is not a lender and does not provide or broker mortgages or reverse mortgages. Money Fit also does not issue Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact your local Public Housing Agency for voucher eligibility, applications, and availability.
