Homebuyer Education Certificate Program

Your first home purchase is a big step—and it’s normal to feel uncertain along the way. Our Homebuyer Education Workshop helps you navigate the homebuying process with confidence. Whether you’re exploring your options or preparing to buy, we offer clear, practical guidance to help simplify the journey and reduce stress.

What does it look like to take the Homebuyer Education Certificate Program?

The Workshop

Getting Started

Preparing your finances for the purchase
Your credit score and how to improve it
Programs for Down payment & closing costs
The steps in the homebuying process

Professionals You Will Meet Along the Way

How to choose a real estate agent
What to look for when selecting a lender
Why home inspections are so important
Home insurance shopping? What you need to know

From Loan Application to the Closing Table

Comparing loan disclosures
What not to do once your loan is approved
What are you signing-understanding your closing documents

We bought a House, Now What?

Maintaining your home for the long term
Budget check up
Saving for home repair

The Counseling Session

A individual counseling session with our HUD-Certified Counselor

Reviewing your credit report
Finding the leaks in your spending plan
Building a personalized action plan

We offer TWO formats for our Vermont specific workshops:

Format ONE: Join the Workshop in Person

This workshop is led by our Northeast Kingdom HUD-Certified Housing Counselors with local guest speakers from the industry, this is the best choice if you'd like an in-person experience.

If you are interested in this option, please reference our workshop calendar for upcoming dates and complete the workshop application. If you have any questions please contact our team by email at homeownership@ruraledge.org or by phone at 802.535.3555.

Workshop Application Workshop Calendar

Format TWO: Join our live workshop virtually!

This is a great choice if you'd prefer a virtual experience, but still want the enriched workshop led by our Northeast Kingdom HUD-Certified Housing Counselors.

If you are interested in either of these options, please reference our workshop calendar for upcoming dates and complete the workshop application. If you have any questions please contact our team by email at homeownership@ruraledge.org or by phone at 802.535.3555.

Workshop Application Workshop Calendar

We offer ONE on-demand, self-paced workshop format.

This option through eHome America allows you to complete the workshop on your own time but does not offer the enriched experience of our other workshops.

Please email your completed workshop application to homeownership@ruraledge.org, then register for the workshop by clicking the button below. Once you have completed your workshop, your counseling appointment will be booked.

Workshop Application Register for eHome America

Homebuyer Education Workshop FAQ

The cost of the workshop is $99 and includes the 8-hour workshop, as well as a one-on-one counseling session with our HUD certified counselor to discuss a participant's individual financial situation with information from a soft pull of their credit (which does not affect credit score) and how to prepare themselves for a mortgage. Once complete, a certificate, good for two years, will be issued to lenders, who often require this course as part of the mortgage application.

Yes. In fact, one of the biggest obstacles facing many homebuyers is too much debt. Your monthly debt is taken into consideration when a lender determines the mortgage amount for which you qualify. This is covered in the workshop and, with your permission, RuralEdge will do a soft pull of your credit to speak about your current financial situation and readiness for a mortgage during a one-on-one counseling session following the workshop.

Homebuyer Education Workshop Partners 2024