Class Overview
Our classes are provided via Zoom with a link sent prior to each class. By appointment, individual counseling can also be provided virtually or in person in our Norristown offices.
The classes focus on topics not taught in regular school including understanding credit, money management and understanding the home buying process including selecting a realtor, finding the best mortgage and grant programs.
Genesis Housing Corporation is a certified U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Counseling Agency and is also an approved Counseling Agency for PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
Virtual Classes
Our classes allow you to attend while staying at home. Each of our regular classes is divided into two parts (each about an hour). When you register for a class, you will be signing up for two class sessions – Part 1 on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday.
Register for our classes online. Classes are FREE but registration is required. Individual counseling sessions are available after attending your first class.
Understanding Credit
Class #1
- Understand credit reporting
- Obtain a free credit report from all major credit bureaus
- Learn how to improve your credit score
Money Management
Class #2
- Setting up a working budget – “It’s more than just the bills”
- How does current spending impact future financial options
- Prioritizing spending in tough economic times
- Dealing with debt & developing a savings plan
Home Buying Basics
Class #3
- Understanding the home buying process – realtors, agreement of sale, mortgages, inspections, insurance and more
- Learn about grant and loan programs for home buyers
Pre-Closing Counseling Appointments
If you are working with a lender and under contract for a home, call to arrange a counseling appointment.
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Genesis Housing Corporation develops affordable housing and provides free housing counseling services to help educate consumers on housing and financial issues. Our general activities include the rehabilitation of homes to improve and stabilize neighborhoods and to provide safe and decent housing for lower income families. Genesis Housing Corporation also provides housing counseling, credit, money management and foreclosure prevention services.
Improving credit scores is a very complex issue. There are five main factors that affect a person’s FICO score. Genesis Housing Corporation teaches a free (two-hour) class on Understanding Credit, which breaks down this topic into understandable language. We also have funding from the Montgomery County Housing and Community Development Department to provide free credit reports with scores for students in our class. Following the class, we encourage every student to set up an individual session where we review in detail your credit report, and develop a Plan of Action for the next 6-9 months. This usually ties together a Money Management Strategy as well. Since these topics are closely related, we usually recommend our class on Money Management, where we explore topics related to spending (all spending, not just bill paying) and why families at many different income levels often seem to struggle financially.
Our class on Home Buying Basics takes you step by step through the home buying process, and the order in which to do them. We cover what lenders look for so that you can determine if you are ready to buy and how much you can afford. We talk about special mortgages and grants for first time home buyers, choosing a lender, a realtor and understanding the bidding process, the basics of the Agreement of Sale, and how much money you will need to be able to buy. Our individual sessions are designed to help you calculate an affordable price range and explore multiple options mortgage and grant that may be available to you.
Genesis Housing Corporation does not give grants for closing costs but we are very familiar with a number of grant providers and work closely with many programs for first time home buyers. Our free class on Home Buying Basics covers a review of these grants and an individual session can help determine if you may be eligible for any programs.
Our Money Management Class focuses on topics relating to spending habits and reducing other spending areas to get focused on a “needs only” budget in tough times. In addition, we work with existing homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgage or their taxes, to develop a strategy to attempt to get caught up, by analyzing spending patterns and helping them set up a realistic budget, while talking to the lender or tax collector on their behalf to consider options to help them get back on track.
No, Genesis Housing is unable to assist with any financial payments but there are some services provided by the County that may be of assistance if you are a resident of Montgomery County, PA.
Montgomery County contact numbers
- For general information or to find out if there is a County agency that may be of assistance, contact Community Connections at 610-278-3522.
- If you are actively homeless or facing homelessness, please contact Your Way Home at 610-278-3522 or https://yourwayhome.org/
- Montgomery County Housing & Community Development offers homeowner rehab grant programs for most of the County. The waiting lists are currently closed. Updates at https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/2841/Home-Repairs
- Please note that homeowners in Abington, Conshohocken, Lower Merion and Norristown should contact their municipality directly for their homeowner rehab programs.
Genesis Housing owns and manages six affordable single family homes. All are currently rented and there is no waiting list.
While we partner in the development of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects, LIHTC developments are managed at each site and should be contacted directly for more information. The contact info for these developments and contact information for affordable housing developments by municipality are listed by PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) at www.pahousingsearch.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Check back here to find answers to questions we get a lot. If you don’t see an answer to your question here, please contact us.
