Overview

The NACA Counseling Department provides comprehensive housing counseling for homebuyers, homeowners and renters. The over 300 counselors are HUD certified and the vast majority are licensed Mortgage Counselors (i.e., MLOs). The counselors work with Members to improve their financial management in preparation for homeownership or to address a potential foreclosure or eviction. The counselors work with the Member to determine an affordable mortgage payment and qualifies them to access NACA’s Best in America Mortgage or other mortgage products and services.

The department consists of a network of more than 48 offices nationwide and a Remote Counseling Center that services the 50 states. The counselors are supported by National Service Representatives, Office Directors and Regional Directors. The Counselors are the primary point of contact and they coordinate with other NACA departments to ensure Members have a successful homebuying process and other assistance as needed.

Steps to Homeownership

First step

Register and attend a regional NACA Homebuyers Workshop which take place every other Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time. The objective of the workshop is to educate participants about NACA, and its purchase process as well as prepare Purchase Members for their first intake session. At the end of the workshop, Members receive instructions to create their own NACA Web-file.

Second step

Work one-on-one with a counselor for as long as it takes for the Member to become ready for homeownership with an affordable mortgage payment (i.e. NACA Qualified) or to address a homeowner or renters’ situation. This includes document preparation, information verification, budgeting, and financial management.

Third step

NACA Qualified Members attend a Purchase Workshop held every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. that is presented by a NACA Counselor and a NACA In-House Real Estate Agent. Members learns about the housing search process, real estate agent selection, purchase and sales contract and mortgage processing.

Fourth step

Members identify their desired property and are ready to apply for a NACA Mortgage if the Member requests. Members and Mortgage Counselors work together to package a file for NACA Credit Access and once the file is reviewed and approved by a NACA Mortgage Specialist, submit a bank application to a NACA participating lender.

Fifth step

Members, Mortgage Counselors, Mortgage Specialists, Rehab Specialists, Mortgage Processors, and other vendors working together to address lender conditions to get the loan clear to close and close it in a local NACA office.