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Housing Counseling
To sign up for housing counseling services, contact Melissa Orren at [ email ] or 512.472.8788 X 150

All who need or seek our housing counseling services will be served.

Our Housing Counseling Manager represents the best interests of the client, and all discussions are kept strictly confidential.

All services are available at 55 N I H 35 Suite 240, Austin, TX 78702. Face to face counseling will be available in addition to telephone counseling as needed. Hours of service availability will run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday, with after-hours appointments being available by appointment only.

Services available include:

“Realizing the American Dream” Education for First-time Homebuyers
 
-Money and Credit Management
-Purchasing a Home
-Home Care and Safety
 *The homebuyer education program is an 8 hour program meant to prepare first-time homeowners for the challenges and responsibilities of homeownership. It is a requirement for down payment assistance programs.

“Am I Ready for Homeownership?” Homebuyer Counseling
-One-on-one money management counseling
-One-on-one credit counseling
-Home Purchase coaching
-Step-by-step approach to homeownership

“Keep Your Asset Out of Trouble” Post Purchase Counseling and Education
-Money and Credit Management
-Taxes, Insurance and Homeowners Associations
-Home Equity, Home Improvement and Contractors
 
“Keeping your Home when trouble comes knocking” Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling
-Delinquency and Default Counseling
-Workout plans for Homeowners facing Foreclosure
-Options for Homeownership Retention
-Counseling for the transition out of homeownership

About our Housing Counseling Manager, Melissa Orren Cordoba

[ E-mail Melissa ]

Follow Melissa on Twitter

Melissa Orren has worked with AHFH since 2002.  In her time here, she has developed a 24 course homeowner education program, with classes ranging from finance to pet care. As a result of her curriculum, our families make timely mortgage payments, maintain their homes, and engage in their communities. Many other organizations have appealed to Melissa for guidance in developing their own programs.

The success of our families is due not only to Melissa's education, but also her support. Having grown up in low income housing outside of Boston, Melissa is no stranger to the struggles our partner families have faced. She has mentored them, visited them on site, attended their house dedications, and maintained relationships with them long after their homes have been built. Her steadfast support has kept our families motivated and on track throughout their average tenure of two years in the program.

In 2009, Melissa began thinking of ways she could expand on the educational services she had created and reach more people in need. She began the HUD counseling certification process, and was approved in 2010. In the coming years, we will be able to help hundreds of families understand the home purchasing process, how to get budgeting and credit problems fixed, and how to avoid predatory lending practices.