HUD Housing Counseling & Housing Education
Receive quality housing advice & course materials from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency with over two decades of providing nonprofit credit counseling.
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HUD-Approved Housing Counseling You Can Trust
Whether you’re buying your first home, exploring reverse mortgage options, or looking for rental assistance, our certified counselors provide expert guidance to help you make informed decisions and achieve long-term housing stability.
Get expert guidance tailored to your unique situation-offered by a trusted nonprofit with nearly 30 years of experience.
What Housing Services Are You Looking For?
Do you have questions about housing? Should you buy a home? Refinance your house? What if you can’t make your mortgage payments? Or your credit isn’t great? Find the support you need with our HUD-approved housing counseling services.
Homebuyer Counseling
For first-time homebuyers or renters of three or more years, this one-on-one counseling provides guidance on credit, budgeting, loan options, and key documents. Our counselors support you from goal-setting through closing.
No-cost service.
Reverse Mortgage
For homeowners 62 and older, this HUD-required counseling session explains the details, risks, and repayment responsibilities of a reverse mortgage. Sessions last 60-90 minutes.
$200 per session (can be included in closing costs or paid at the time of counseling).
First Time Home Buyer
This self-paced online course meets lender and assistance program requirements for first-time homebuyers. Topics include budgeting, credit, mortgages, and homeownership responsibilities.
$99 course fee ($35 for homebuyer counseling clients).
Rental Counseling
For current and future renters, this no-cost service helps with budgeting, lease agreements, housing searches, and referrals to financial assistance programs when available.
No-cost service.
Why Choose Money Fit’s Housing Counseling Services?
As a HUD-approved counseling agency, Money Fit provides trusted, personalized guidance to help you reach your housing goals. Whether you’re buying, renting, or looking to maintain your home, we offer practical solutions tailored to your unique needs.
- Certified housing counselors with years of experience.
- Clear, straightforward advice on housing challenges.
- Educational tools and resources to build financial stability.
- Personalized plans tailored to your unique situation.
- Trusted nonprofit organization with nearly 30 years of service.
Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools to achieve lasting housing stability.
How Money Fit Helps You Reach Your Housing Goals
Connect with a HUD Certified Counselor
Reach out to our housing experts for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your concerns and assess your needs.
Create a Tailored Action Plan
Our counselors will design a plan customized to help you reach your housing goals.
Achieve Stability and Success
With our guidance, you’ll gain the tools and resources needed to secure long-term housing stability.
Real Stories, Real Results
Take the First Step Toward Housing Stability Today
Money Fit HUD-Approved Counseling Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are the most common questions we are asked about regarding our HUD-Approved Housing Counseling programs.
Money Fit provides housing counseling services to help individuals and families navigate financial challenges related to homeownership, renting, and housing stability. Our services include:
- Pre-Purchase Housing Counseling – Guidance on preparing for homeownership, understanding mortgage options, and assessing financial readiness.
- Rental Counseling – Support for renters facing financial difficulties, including budgeting assistance and strategies for avoiding eviction.
- Mortgage Delinquency and Foreclosure Prevention – Helping homeowners understand their options if they are struggling with mortgage payments and connecting them with possible solutions.
- Reverse Mortgage Counseling (HECM Counseling) – Assisting seniors in understanding the benefits, risks, and responsibilities of a reverse mortgage.
- Financial Coaching for Housing Stability – Personalized budgeting and financial planning to strengthen long-term housing security.
All services are designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions about their housing situation.
Money Fit offers housing counseling and education services through a variety of accessible formats to meet the needs of individuals and families:
- One-on-One Counseling – Available via phone, video chat, or email, providing personalized guidance tailored to your specific housing concerns.
- Online Educational Programs – Self-paced courses covering essential topics like homeownership readiness, budgeting for rent or mortgage payments, and foreclosure prevention.
- Workshops & Webinars – Live and recorded sessions on key housing topics, offering expert insights and interactive learning opportunities.
Whether you’re preparing to buy a home, struggling with rent or mortgage payments, or simply looking for financial guidance to maintain housing stability, Money Fit’s counseling services provide the knowledge and support to help you move forward with confidence.
Money Fit offers HUD-approved housing counseling and education services nationwide. Our programs are accessible to individuals and families across the United States, providing guidance on homeownership, rental assistance, foreclosure prevention, and financial stability.
Since we deliver our services through phone, online programs, and email, clients can receive professional housing counseling no matter where they are located.
No, there are no income requirements or limitations for accessing Money Fit’s housing counseling and education services. Our programs are available to individuals and families of all income levels, ensuring that anyone seeking financial guidance for housing stability, homeownership, or rental concerns can receive the support they need.
Money Fit offers budgeting and financial management counseling services at no cost. We also provide a variety of free financial, budgeting, and credit workshops to help individuals and families improve their financial well-being.
For pre-purchase homeownership counseling and other housing-related workshops, a nominal fee may apply. You can view the full fee schedule for housing counseling services here.
Money Fit does not provide direct financial assistance, monetary payments, or emergency relief funds for housing. However, when funding is available, we may offer assistance programs that support specific needs, such as child care, rental assistance, or other financial relief, depending on eligibility and location.
Additionally, we can provide information and referrals to agencies and programs that offer financial assistance for housing-related needs. Our housing counselors are available to help connect individuals with resources that may be available in their community.
Money Fit does not provide legal assistance or legal advice, as we do not have attorneys on staff. If you are facing eviction or need legal guidance, we recommend reaching out to your local Legal Aid Society or a tenant advocacy organization for affordable or free legal support.
While we cannot offer legal representation, our housing counselors can provide financial guidance and referrals to resources that may help renters navigate eviction challenges and explore possible solutions.
Money Fit is not a lender and does not provide mortgages or broker loans. Instead, our HUD-approved housing counseling services help clients:
- Evaluate loan options and understand mortgage terms.
- Navigate the homebuying and lending process with confidence.
- Understand housing rights, protections, and responsibilities related to homeownership, including traditional and reverse mortgages.
Our goal is to provide unbiased financial guidance so individuals can make informed decisions about their housing future.
Money Fit does not provide Section 8 housing vouchers. However, we partner with local housing authorities and organizations that administer housing voucher programs.
If you are seeking Section 8 assistance, we recommend contacting your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) to learn about eligibility, application processes, and availability in your area. Our housing counselors can also help connect you with resources and guidance on navigating affordable housing options.
Nonprofit Housing Counseling & Education Services
It is human nature to long for a stable home that offers shelter from life’s physical and symbolic storms. Housing fills that yearning, and as one of just three physical survival needs we can satisfy through financial means, it makes up an important part of a healthy and safe life. A growing body of twenty-first-century research and programs has found housing to occupy such an important place among all human needs and wants that it is beginning to take precedence over work placement, addiction recovery, job training, and financial education.
We also believe in the primacy of housing, whether securing it for the first time on our own or maintaining it in trying times, be it through ownership or as a renter. For this reason, we have long offered counseling and education to help individuals and families secure and remain in stable homes.
Our counseling and learning sessions address the basics of homeownership, qualifying for a mortgage or rental application, building credit, avoiding predatory lending, understanding homeowner insurance, preparing for homeownership expenses such as maintenance and repairs, and being aware of your rights as a renter or borrower.
Housing Financial Education
Money Fit offers the following services that promote stable and appropriate housing:
- Financial Management and Budget Counseling
- Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops
- Predatory Lending, Loan Scams, or Other Fraud Prevention Workshops
- Fair Housing Workshop
- Rental Workshops
- Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education Workshop
- Non-delinquency Post-Purchase Workshops (Home Maintenance and/or Financial Management for Homeowners)
Our primary products for providing these services include the following free, 60-minute online courses:
Financial Essential: Family and Self-sufficiency
Credit to You: The Basics of Credit Histories, Reports, and Scores
- Life after Debt: 7 Steps to Maintaining a Debt-free Lifestyle
Paid Courses:
- Homebuyer Education Course: (Links to External Site)
The eHome Homebuyer Education course is a self-guided, HUD-approved online program designed to be completed in six hours or less. Covering topics like budgeting, credit, mortgages, and home maintenance, it not only prepares first-time homebuyers for success but also provides you a certificate of completion so you can qualify for down payment assistance programs and other benefits. Learners can complete the course all at once or in segments, picking up where they left off. Just $99 per household. Register now!
Find other financial education courses at courses.moneyfit.org/learn.
Housing Counseling
We offer housing counseling related to these same topics in addition to Homeless Assistance via phone, email, or zoom. Whether through our education or counseling services, participants will assess and be better prepared to qualify for an apartment, a mortgage, or to deal with financial emergencies as a homeowner.
Contact our housing counseling and education manager, Todd Christensen, at 855-685-7838 for additional information, or send him an email at todd@moneyfit.org.
Housing Calculators
Money Fit by DRS has provided nonprofit credit counseling to consumers for more than two decades.
Take advantage of our many housing-related calculators. They are all free and easy to use. None of our calculators require you to submit personally identifying information. Check them out!
Additional Debt Management Service
We also believe in the primacy of housing, whether securing it for the first time on our own or maintaining it in trying times, be it through ownership or as a renter. For this reason, we have long offered counseling and education to help individuals and families secure and remain in stable homes.
Our counseling and learning sessions address the basics of homeownership, qualifying for a mortgage or rental application, building credit, avoiding predatory lending, understanding homeowner insurance, preparing for homeownership expenses such as maintenance and repairs, and being aware of your rights as a renter or borrower.
Learn More About Our Credit Counseling and Debt Management Program
Online Housing Program Fees & Disclosures*
Live Counseling and Service Fees
*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of the course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferrable
*Fees will be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
Our Commitment to Fair and Equitable Housing
Money Fit’s housing counseling services offer comprehensive support to help you achieve your housing goals, whether it’s securing a mortgage, finding an apartment, or dealing with financial emergencies as a renter, homeowner, or potential homeowner. Our expert counselors are dedicated to helping you assess your needs and find the best solution for your unique situation. With a combination of education and counseling services, Money Fit is the partner you need to achieve a stable and secure housing situation.
Counseling and Service Fees
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Homebuyer Education Course $99 per household
The eHome Homebuyer Education course is a self-guided, HUD-approved online program designed to be completed in six hours or less. Covering topics like budgeting, credit, mortgages, and home maintenance, it not only prepares first-time homebuyers for success but also provides you a certificate of completion so you can qualify for down payment assistance programs and other benefits. Learners can complete the course all at once or in segments, picking up where they left off. Just $99 per household. Register now!
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Rental, Fair Housing, Predatory Lending, Post-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant
Money Fit offers a series of HUD-approved online workshops, each lasting approximately one hour, covering essential housing topics: Rental Workshop – Learn tenants' rights, lease agreements, budgeting for rent, and tips for maintaining a positive landlord-tenant relationship. Fair Housing Workshop – Understand fair housing laws, discrimination protections, and how to advocate for your housing rights. Predatory Lending Workshop – Recognize and avoid unfair lending practices, high-risk loans, and deceptive mortgage terms. Post-Purchase Homeownership Workshop – Designed for new homeowners, this workshop covers home maintenance, financial management, and long-term housing stability. These workshops provide practical guidance and key insights to help renters, homebuyers, and homeowners make informed decisions.
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Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. credit, budgeting, homeless prevention): $0
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Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. credit, budgeting, homeless prevention): $0
One-on-one Counseling Fees*
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Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management $75
Session by the hour
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Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Conversation Mortgage or HECM) Counseling Fee: $200* per session
* Additional IRS mileage reimbursement and staff time for in-home counseling sessions (available in limited southern Idaho counties). Call for details.
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Credit Report Fee Paid Directly by Client
*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of the course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferrable
*Fees will be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
Housing Counseling Blog Posts
Find important answers, advice, and analysis to a wide range of personal finance topics in our Money Motivations blog.
