TRAINING

[wlmmyers]

From: "Joanne M. Evans" <jmevans@winthropfcu.org>

Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
*
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org
*

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[wlmmyers]

From: "Sandell McLaughlin" <smclaughlin@myctcu.com>
Hi Joanne,
HUD offers classes and certification in homebuying instruction and counseling.* That certification is top of the line and accepted by all funding sources.*
Sandell McLaughlin
Community Development Director
Community Trust Credit Union
(209) 521-6015 x245
cell** (209) 402-3843
Fax* (209) 521-0407
Visit us at www.myctcu.com (http://www.myctcu.com/)

From: "Walt Kapinos" <wkapinos@beaconfederal.com>
Is there such a thing as certification to conduct this type of training?? Also is 1st time home buyer certification directed toward training for persons of low to moderate income?? These may seem like "simple" questions but I truly would like to know the answers. Thank you!
Walt Kapinos
Former President Marcy FCU

From: <libertad@wellsfargo.com>
Check out:
www.handsonbanking.org (http://www.handsonbanking.org/)
There is a homebuyer education module on this site.* Maybe it would be of interest.
Armando de la Libertad
Vice President, Community Development
Wells Fargo
(714) 973-4355

From: "Beall, Lisa" <beall@wesbanco.com>
Joanne,
I am vice president of an organization that has provided homebuyer education since 1994.* We follow HUD's model, but are not HUD-certified.* For my personal certification, I went through my local NeighorWorks organization which was helpful in bringing credibility to my organization.* The training was intense and lasted for one full week.
*I hope this helps.
Have a good day,
Lisa

From: "Paul Turney" <pturney@bvcog.org>
Neighborhood reinvestment Corp, neighborworks has an excelent model. We've been using it for some time now.
Sent from my Blackberry handheld:
Paul Turney
Excutive Vice President
Brazos Valley Affordable Housing Corp.
(979) 595-2809 ext. 2230

From: DEPUTYREF@aol.com
CC: awilliams@habg.org
In response to your question about first time home buyers training,** I know of no better program than that of the Bowling Green Housing Authority.* I am sending cc to Abraham Director, Executive Director.* He can put you in touch with the right person.* They do follow up as well as pre-purchase training, and I am referring Habitat to Housing Authority for followup care.
*Sincerely,
Martha Deputy
Martha Deputy
1274 Beech Bend Road
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-842-6131
cell 784-4325

From: StrategicExec@aol.com
Try the Neighborworks Training Institute.* They offer a "Train - the -*
Trainer" homeownership class via the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership*
Education and Counseling (NCHEC)".* The duration of the class* is five days.*
Certification via examination is offered at the* end of the session.* The
certification is one that is recognized and* preferred by HUD.* In fact, HUD sponsors
scholarships for HUD approved* housing counseling agencies to attend the
training.
http://nw.org/network/training/homeownership/default.asp_
Felice Blumhagen
Community Development Consultant
(919) 671-4452**
*
From: "Edward Harris" <bigtexharris@msn.com>
www.nw.org (http://www.nw.org)
I use to train for these guys and they are the best in the country.* I provide a similar training for counselors.* I am retired from HUD and serve on several boards of directors of counseling organizations.* www.ehandassociates.com (http://www.ehandassociates.com)
Any further questions contact me at bigtexharris@msn.com (bigtexharris@msn.com)
The most accepted course is the one offered by NeighborWorks.* Often, different states offer certification programs.* I would suggest you check with your state housing finance agency to see what course they recommend.* Usually, the bar set by the HFA will be the one you want to reach.*
*Martha W. Walters-Pierce
Senior Vice President & CRA Officer
New South Federal Savings Bank
mwalters@newsouthfederal.com (mwalters@newsouthfederal.com)

From: "Ohlund,Glen" <gohlund@ci.manchester.nh.us>
Joanne-
There are probably 10 CDC's in Boston that offer this training.* I bet
some would offer it to your clientele on a "fee for services" basis or
they might allow you to audit the program and that will give you a
pretty complete picture around how it is done.* Make sure to check in
with the Boston Dept. of Neighborhood Development and see if they have
any advice or resources.
Respectfully,
Glen Ohlund
Development Coordinator
Manchester Economic Development Office
1 City Hall Plaza
Manchester, NH 03101
t (603) 624-6505 x 4103
f (603) 624-6308
e gohlund@ManchesterNH.gov
At 04:40 PM 2/7/2007, you wrote:
Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
*
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org
*
This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[rwashington at ECD.Org]

Certification is offered to organizations from the department of HUD during their annual training meetings, you can also look to neighbor works for certification.
While in some areas certification is not mandatory to offer the classes, some funding organizations required that the organization offering the courses be certified in order to receive and/or distribute grant dollars.
Dollars to the organizations weather for direct services or assistance to homebuyers directs more homebuyers to your organization.
*
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-1093742-5923932@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-1093742-5923932@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of William Myers
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:42 PM
To: communitydevelopmentbanking-l@cornell.edu
Subject: TRAINING
*
From: "Joanne M. Evans" <jmevans@winthropfcu.org>

Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
*
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org
*

This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[eduardo at tacdc.org]

Mr. Myers:
*
Certification is required when applying certain federal funds in the mix.* If it is private funds, then the funding source may prefer certification, but not require it.
*
The NeighborWorks Training Institute (www.nw.org (http://www.nw.org/)) has the most extensive – and arguably – the most utilized HUD recognized certification program.*
*
Look into the HOME funding rules from your local and state governments.* They tend to have funding rounds early in the year so that award allocations and contracts can be in place by October 1 - when the new federal budget begins.*
*
Terms to be aware of in the CDBG and HOME programs (by the way, HOME is NOT an acronym, and is always capitalized – I think it is just to make things interesting!)
CDBG – Community Development Block Grants: the funding structure used by the federal government that allows the local area to decide how the funding will be used. (It gives control to the local entities, but there are many conditions and reporting requirements.)
HOME – SHORT for HOME Investment Partnerships Program – typically described as the ‘bricks and sticks’ part of community development funding.
DPA - Down Payment Assistance an activity that is allowed under the HOME and CDBG programs
PJ - Participating Jurisdiction – the governmental entity that is receiving (and meeting the 25% match requirement) HUD funds.
Entitlement Community – the community that received CDBG funding
5 year action plan - the plan that the entitlement community has developed, using an open process to garner citizen input as to the community needs, which guides what the funds received can be used for.* (IMPORTANT: IF your activities are not part of the plan, you cannot be funded using these funds, hence: be involved in the planning stages!)
AMI / AMFI – Area Median Income / Area Median Family Income – The income limit determined by an equation utilized by HUD to set recipient guidelines. Typical benchmarks or limits are that the aid recipient can make no more than 80% of AMI or 50% of AMI or 30% of AMI in order to receive different types of service (i.e.: Section 8 is for families at or below 30% AMI…DPA is for families at or below 80% AMI.) HUD releases the tables on a yearly basis – typically around April or May.* IMPORTANT: these do not limit the earning potential of the recipient families, they just qualify the family to receive the aid in the beginning…
CHDO – a designation - annually verified by the PJ – given to NPOs (Nonprofit Organizations) that are structured in a specific manner (no less than 1/3 board representatives from census income tracks with 51% or greater of the population making less than 80% of the AMI; no more than 1/3 of the board can be an elected official; the NPO Charter / Bylaws and mission must in some manner reflect that the goal of organization is to provide housing for low-income families; and a geographic target must be established (can range from serving the entire state to serving a neighborhood in your city).* Something to keep in mind: your CHDO designation comes from a PJ, so other PJs do NOT have to honor that designation.* YOU must apply to every PJ you intend to apply to, and meet THEIR RULES.* This is because: HOME allows the local PJ to augment the rules in a more restrictive manner – or no less restrictive than the Federal HOME Rules.* Being a CHDO allows you to utilize HOME funds in ways otherwise not allowed, such as in predevelopment activities.* Also, the PJ MUST award no less than 15% of its HOME funds to CHDO’s (so you only compete with CHDO’s for that 15% set-aside, where as you compete with everyone for the other 85% of the PJs annual allocation.
CBDO – Community Based Development Organization: *CDBGs counterpart to CHDOs.* Similar in nature, structure, and intent.* Look at the local Rules.
*
I hope this helps!
*
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.* The NeighborWorks Training Institutes are – in my opinion – worth the investment.
*
Good luck-
*
Eduardo R. Magaloni
Director of Development and Training
office (512) 916-0508
fax**** (512) 916-0541
www.tacdc.org
Enhancing community development throughout Texas.

*
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-1093742-5282806@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-1093742-5282806@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of William Myers
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:42 PM
To: communitydevelopmentbanking-l@cornell.edu
Subject: TRAINING
*
From: "Joanne M. Evans" <jmevans@winthropfcu.org>

Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
*
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org
*

This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[wlmmyers]

FROM: "Rosalind Washington" <rwashington@ECD.Org>
********Certification is offered to organizations from the department of HUD
during their annual training meetings, you can also look to neighbor
works for certification.
********While in some areas certification is not mandatory to offer the classes,
some funding organizations required that the organization offering the
courses be certified in order to receive and/or distribute grant
dollars.
********Dollars to the organizations weather for direct services or assistance
to homebuyers directs more homebuyers to your organization.

From: "Monique P. Harrell" <profit1@ccdi-va.net>
Organization: The Center for Community Development, Inc.
********There is a HUD approved certified trainer homeownership educational program through the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA). They are based out of Richmond, VA (800) 227-8432.

From: "Penelope Rozhkova" <prozhkova@smart-money.org>
********http://www.nw.org/network/training/training.asp
Penelope Rozhkova
Financial Education Coordinator
SmartMoney Community Services
19 W. Elder Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-241-7266 x107
513-361-4783 fax
*
From: "Edward Harris" <bigtexharris@msn.com>
I see you have a lot of responses on the topic.* I use to train for Neighborworks the same course these guys are mentioning.* I also noticed that the majority of respondents or lenders.* At some point it becomes a conflict for lenders to provide consumer counseling it creates some ethics problems between educating consumers and closing deals.* All don't pursue this dual role.* But they bear watching.* I serve on state and national bodies that do nothing but counseling.* We advocate for the profession and is not in our viewpoint a tool for lenders and real estate professional to claim to be counselors and in reality they are excellent credit dispute advocates and not counselors.

From: "Edward Harris" <bigtexharris@msn.com>
HUD only certifies agencies, they do not certify individual counselors.* The certifications for Loss Mitigation is offered through their national center in OKC.* They have the trainings across the country.* The HUD Handbook 7610.1 will provide the specific answers you need.* Other than that call the HOC in your area.* TEX

From: "Joanne M. Evans" <jmevans@winthropfcu.org>
Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org

This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[wlmmyers]

From: "Maurissa Stone" <MStone@nw.org>
NeighborWorks(r) America has a certification program for Housing
Counselors.* Please visit http://www.nw.org/ (http://www.nw.org/%A0) and hit the
training link.
ms

From: "Martie North" <mnorth@bankozarks.com>
Hello,
Lyn Haralson of the Federal Reserve Bank forwarded your email to me.* In
order for your homebuyer education classes to be recognized by ADFA,
HUD, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, you must become certified HB educator.
On a national level, the primary source for this level of training is
NeighborWorks America.* Please visit their website at www.nw.org. (http://www.nw.org.*/) Look
closely at the training schedule.* The class that you will need is
Homebuyer Education Methods: Training the Trainer.* It is a 5 day class
with a certification exam.* The classes are conducted quarterly in
various parts of the country (none are scheduled in Arkansas). The cost
is $195 per day plus a registration fee, hotel and airfare.* It
typically costs anywhere from $2,000 - $2,500 per person to take the
class and attend the training conference. Homebuyer education
certifications are given to individuals and not companies or
organizations.
********Additionally, after you receive your certification that does not
necessarily mean you are ready to conduct an 8 hour HBE class.* It
really depends upon the skill and knowledge level of the
instructor/facilitator that you use for your program.* If you would like
to learn more, please do not hesitate to visit the website.* If you
would like to speak to me about the training and certification process,
please call me at 501-978-2234.
Sincerely,
Martie North
Vice President
Director of Community Development
Bank of the Ozarks

From: "Edward Harris" <bigtexharris@msn.com>
It should be mandatory.* Look at the foreclosure rates across the nation which is a direct result of ARM, and Interest Only deals for low-mod income folks that did not get the whole story before closing and instead got the second story after they went belly up.* Then they call the counseling agencies for relief and loss mitigation.* Originators/Counselors don't do Loss Mit.* There is no commission.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:42 PM
To: communitydevelopmentbanking-l@cornell.edu
Subject: TRAINING

From: "Joanne M. Evans" <jmevans@winthropfcu.org>

Hello, I would like to become trained to teach a First-time homebuyers class. We would like to offer them yet I don’t know if a certification is necessary to be considered acceptable to homebuyers or funding sources. Any information in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks,
*
Joanne M Evans
Branch Mgr, South End
Dir. of Community Development
Tel** 617-846-1226* Ext 3201
Fax* 617-350-5505
jmevans@winthropfcu.org

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