Applicants must complete the Homebuyer counseling class before submitting your application for Down Payment Assistance. Applications are not considered complete unless accompanied by a certificate from an approved course. Absolutely no approvals are awarded without the certificate on file.
The application must include a certificate from a State-certified homebuyer course, confirming that at least one of the prospective borrowers has completed a State-certified homebuyer course.
The course work includes discussions of:
- The mortgage application process
- Downpayment and closing cost requirements
- Credit evaluation
- Making an offer to purchase and getting a home inspection
- What you need for a closing
- Special considerations for buyers of condominiums or 2-4 family structure
- Post purchase issues
The following agencies provide homebuyer courses:
| Arlington | Arllington Housing Corp., (781) 641-2103 |
| Belchertown | H.A.P., Michelle McAdaragh, (413) 785-1251, ext. 515 |
| Beverly | Beverly Community Development, (978) 921-6000 |
| Boston | Allston/Brighton CDC, (617) 787-3874 |
| Boston | City Life ­ Vida Urbana, (617) 524-3541 |
| Boston | Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, (617) 442-9670 |
| Boston | East Boston Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, (617) 567-5882, ext. 219 |
| Boston | Fenway CDC, (617) 267-4637 |
| Boston | Harding & Harding, (617) 436-6362 |
| Boston | Jamaica Plain NDC, (617) 522-2424 |
| Boston | M.A.M.L.E.O., Inc., (617) 436-6868 |
| Boston | Mass. Affordable Housing Alliance, (617) 265-8995 |
| Boston | Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, (617) 859-0400, ext. 362 |
| Boston | Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, (617) 442-5449 |
| Boston | Nuestra Communidad, (617) 427-3599 |
| Boston | Urban Edge, (617) 522-5515 |
| Boston | Vietaid, Inc, (617) 822-3717 |
| Brockton | Brockton Community Corp., (508) 559-6162 |
| Cambridge | City of Cambridge, (617) 349-4600 |
| Cambridge | Homeowners' Rehab., (617) 868-4858 |
| Chelsea | Chelsea Restoration Corp., (617) 889-2277 |
| Chicopee | Chicopee Community Development, (413) 594-4711, ext. 283 |
| Danvers | Danvers Housing Assistance Trust, (978) 777-0001 |
| Fall River | Fall River Affordable Housing Corp., (508) 677-222 |
| Fitchburg | Twin Cities CDC, (978) 342-9561 |
| Framingham | South Middlesex Opportunity Council, (508) 620-4852 |
| Framingham | Town of Framingham, (508) 620-4852 |
| Haverhill | Haverhill CDC, (978) 374-2348 |
| Hingham | Hingham Housing Partnership, (781) 720-0559 |
| Hyannis | Hyannis Housing Assistance Corp., (508) 771-5400 |
| Hyannis | Nam Vets Association of the Cape & Islands, (508) 778-1590 |
| Kingston | South Shore Housing Development Corporation, (781) 585-3885 |
| Lowell | Community Teamwork, Inc., (978) 459-0551 |
| Lowell | Lynn Housing Authority, (781) 477-2800 ext. 133 |
| New Bedford | New Bedford Housing and Neighborhood Development, (508) 979-1500 |
| Northampton | Valley CDC, (413) 586-5855 |
| Pittsfield | Pittsfield/Berkshire Housing Development, (413) 499-1630, ext. 141 |
| Plymouth | Plymouth Redevelopment Authority , (508) 830-4115 |
| Quincy | Quincy Community Action Program, , (617) 479-8181, ext. 115, |
| Salem | Salem Harbor CDC, (508) 745-8071 |
| Springfield | H.A.P., (413) 785-1251, ext. 515 |
| Springfield | Office of Housing, (413) 787-6500 |
| Springfield | N.H.S., (413) 739-4737 |
| Stoneham | Stoneham Community Service Network, (781) 438-598 |
| Taunton | Taunton Planning and Community Development/ Pro Home, Inc., (508) 821-1030 |
| Turners Falls | Franklin County Regional Housing, (413) 863-9781 |
| Waltham | WATCH CDC, (781) 891-6689 |
| Ware | H.A.P., Michelle McAdaragh, (413) 785-1251, ext. 515 |
| Watertown | Watertown Community Housing, (617) 923-3505 |
| Weymouth | Town of Weymouth, (781) 335-2000, ext. 330 |
| Winchendon | Rural Housing Improvement, (978) 297-5300 |
| Worcester | Central Mass Housing Alliance, (508) 791-7265 |
| Worcester | Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc., (508) 799-0322 |