NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC)

NCHEC Educational Tools to Enhance the Homeownership Education Counselor's Performance

Realizing the American Dream, 4th Edition

The Realizing the American Dream Trainer’s Manual and accompanying Homebuyer’s Manual provide homeownership trainers, housing counselors and homebuyers with comprehensive information on the entire homebuying process.  They include information to help homebuyers manage money, understand credit, secure a mortgage loan, shop for a home and manage finances.

The Trainer’s Manual includes teaching tools, activities, worksheets and visual aids and serves as a companion piece to NCHEC’s pre-purchase education methods training course, HO229.

Available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese at the NeighborWorks Store.

Keeping the American Dream, 2nd Edition

The Keeping the American Dream Homeowner’s Manual provides important information to homeowners about building their community, staying financially fit and maintaining and improving their homes.  The manual delivers clear instruction and advice designed to equip homeowners with the skills they need to remain secure in their new home purchase.

Keeping the American Dream is presented in a user-friendly format with tips, checklists and interactive exercises and serves as a companion piece to NCHEC’s post-purchase education methods training course, HO247.

Available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese at the NeighborWorks Store

NCHEC Homebuyer’s Guides

These four consumer-focused guides cover various stages of the homebuying process.  Developed by the Fannie Mae Foundation, NCHEC now offers these handbooks to organizations as another useful practitioner resource.  Available in nine languages, the guides deliver practical and specific information in a user-friendly format.

Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own Learn whether you’re ready to buy a home. Determine how much house you can afford. See how much money you may need for a down payment. Estimate your monthly mortgage payments.		Choosing the Mortgage That’s Right for You Learn what a mortgage is and calculate your buying power. Understand fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, government and other mortgage options. See where to shop for a mortgage loan. Understand key factors that affect your mortgage payments.
Borrowing Basics: What You don’t Know Can Hurt You Learn what you can do to avoid predatory lenders. Discover signs that may point to an untrustworthy loan situation. Understand ways you can get the best loan for your situation. Receive a useful glossary of loan terms that will help you understand lending term language.		Knowing and Understanding Your Credit Learn what credit is and why it is important when buying a home. Find out how to order your credit report and correct any efforts. Discover what your credit score means to lenders. Get helpful tips on how to repair past credit problems.

All four guides are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole at the NeighborWorks Store.