How much of a time commitment is required for Homebuyer Education (HBE) and Housing Counseling?

All borrowers are required to complete a Homebuyer Education (HBE) course, which takes approximately 6 hours, as well as one-on-one pre-purchase housing counseling with a HUD-certified housing counselor. The time required for counseling varies based on each household's financial situation and homeownership goals. Generally, intake appointments take 1–2 hours, initial counseling sessions take 2–3 hours, and follow-up sessions take 1–2 hours as needed. Additionally, households with incomes at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) are required to participate in post-purchase housing counseling after closing to support long-term housing stability and successful homeownership.