Free Housing Counseling Class Registration
We are living in very difficult times and there are many unknowns. What we do know is that Genesis Housing Corp. has been around for over 25 years. The strength of our culture and the trust of our clients is what keeps us going. We are here to serve and to support you. We will get through this together.
The health and safety of our employees, clients and community is our top priority. To do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19, we will continue to work from our homes and keep our office closed.
We are now offering virtual classes (Click Here) and virtual individual counseling using Zoom. (Click Here)
Our free 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).
You can also check out our 30-minute credit workshop from the 2018 Montgomery County Housing Fair. This workshop provides an overview on understanding credit and credit scores
Click Here to View our Video!
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).
Click Here to View our Video!
Housing Counseling Classes
Class #1
Understanding Credit
- Understand credit reporting
- Obtain a free credit report from all major credit bureaus
- Learn how to improve your credit score
Class #2
Money Management
- 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
Class #3
Home Buying Basics
- Understanding the home buying process – realtors, agreement of sale, mortgages, inspections, insurance and more
- Learn about grant and loan programs for home buyers
We have updated our regular classes to allow you to attend while staying at home. Each of our regular classes has been 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.
Genesis Housing offers monthly classes in Norristown. Classes are offered in other Montgomery County locations several times per year. Classes are free but registration is required.
Register for our classes online. Genesis Housing Corporation offers FREE Housing Counseling Classes in three sessions. View class brochure. Individual counseling sessions are available after attending your first class.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Montgomery County Contact Numbers:
- If you are actively homeless or facing homelessness, please contact Montgomery County Homeless Services Program, Your Way Home at 211.
- 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.
- Montgomery County Housing & Community Development offers a homeowner rehab grant program for most of the County. To be added to the waiting list, call 610-278-3540. Please note that homeowners in Abington, Conshohocken, Limerick, Lower Merion and Norristown should contact their municipality directly for any homeowner rehab programs.
- For Montgomery County Veterans information on benefits can be provided by the Montgomery County Veterans’ Affairs Office at 610-278-3285.
Schedule & Registration
Genesis Housing offers monthly classes. Classes are FREE but registration is required. Register for our classes online.
New Virtual Classes!
We have updated our regular classes to allow you to attend while staying at home. Each of our regular classes has been 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.
Genesis Housing offers FREE monthly classes but registration is required. Register for our classes online.
Virtual Classes
Our classes are live and provided via Zoom so there is an opportunity to ask questions. Classes are divided into two parts (each about an hour). When you register, you will be signing up for two class sessions – Part 1 on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday.
Norristown Classes
Pottstown Classes
Pottstown classes Pottstown classes will be held at the YWCA Tri-County, 300 King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 in April 2020.
Lower Merion Classes
Willow Grove Classes
Willow Grove classes will be held at the Crestmont Clubhouse, 2595 Rubicam Ave, Willow Grove, PA in June 2020.