Originating & Underwriting

Homeownership Education

A clearer path to homeownership

At Fannie Mae, we believe quality homebuyer education and counseling are key to successful homeownership. Providing access to tools and information helps create a well-informed borrower with a clearer understanding of their housing needs and household budget, allowing them to confidently move through the homebuying process.

Fannie Mae HomeView®

HomeView is a free, interactive, and comprehensive online course that helps put homeownership into focus for your borrowers. The course is written in everyday language and is designed to help borrowers of all backgrounds learn and navigate the homebuying process with information and resources needed for every step of the way.

HomeView features and benefits

Available free of charge.

Aligns with National Industry Standards for pre-purchase homeownership education.

Accessible from desktop, tablet, or mobile device.

Tracks progress — pause and resume anytime, anywhere.

Can be used to satisfy Fannie Mae education requirements.

End of course quiz to test borrower knowledge and receive certificate of completion.

Tools and resources remain available so borrowers can return as often as they’d like.

Available in English and Spanish

Seven course modules guide borrowers through the steps of homeownership

Homeownership Starts Here

Go to HomeView certificate course

Credit basics course in Spanish

Our interactive course Strategies for Healthy Credit for Spanish-speaking borrowers

Addresses fundamentals of credit, including credit establishment and maintenance, credit invisibility, pros and cons of co-signing a loan, and more
Features interactive components, case studies and useful tips
Is offered free of charge

Start credit course in Spanish

Housing counseling

Homeownership Education and Housing Counseling are different programs that help future homeowners become educated on the homebuying and financing processes. Housing counseling, also known as advising, is best suited for borrowers facing complex challenges — those who need one-on-one assistance to develop a deep understanding of their housing needs, household budget, and how to resolve potential issues.

Prospective borrowers who are pursuing eligibility may benefit greatly from housing counseling from a HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agency.

Click here for more information on housing counseling.

What is the difference between homeownership education and counseling?

Homeownership education and counseling play critical and distinct roles in helping borrowers become mortgage ready.

	Homeownership education	Housing counseling
Delivery method	HomeView or homeownership education course from a qualified provider. Education course provided by a Community Seconds® or DPA provider.	Services are unique to individual’s financial situation. Services delivered one-on-one or via classroom, which may be in person, telephonic, video conference, or as per any other HUD-delivery standard.
Content	Comprehensive curriculum and instructional goals. Examples of topics: Knowing if you’re ready to buy or rent. Mortgage process and documentation needed. Home inspections, appraisals, insurance, and closing process. Responsibilities of homeownership.	Covers all topics included in education setting. MUST cover: Buy or rent decision. Establishing a household budget. Review of credit report. Preparation of a written action plan based on the client's individual goals.
Timing	Typically occurs between loan application and closing. Earlier is better. Must be completed by closing.	As early as possible. Before client selects a home. Exclusively for HomeReady®, HomeReady First and HFA Preferred™ purchase transactions when buyers have received housing counseling from a HUD-certified housing counselor within the 12 months prior to the loan closing date, lenders may be eligible to receive the $500 loan-level price adjustment credit if they complete the Housing Counseling data fields in DU, or on the Supplemental Consumer Information Form (Form 1103) for manually underwritten loans, and deliver the loan with SFC 184.
Requirements	Required from a qualified provider* for at least 1 borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers. For purchase loans > 95%, regardless of the mortgage product chosen. For HomeReady® and HFA Preferred™ , regardless of LTV. For borrowers with no credit score, if all borrowers are non-traditional credit, completing homeownership education is required for at least 1 borrower, for all loans. *A qualified provider must be independent of the lender, with homeownership education content that is aligned with National Industry Standards (NIS) or is offered by a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HomeView can be used to satisfy homeownership education requirements.	Housing counseling may be recommended for borrowers who: Are ineligible for a mortgage. Are facing complex challenges. Are in need of customized one-on-one assistance to be mortgage-ready. Note: Buyers who have completed housing counseling by a HUD-approved agency are not required to complete a homeownership education course.


Delivery method Homeownership education HomeView or homeownership education course from a qualified provider. Education course provided by a Community Seconds^® or DPA provider. Housing counseling Services are unique to individual’s financial situation. Services delivered one-on-one or via classroom, which may be in person, telephonic, video conference, or as per any other HUD-delivery standard.
Content Homeownership education Comprehensive curriculum and instructional goals. Examples of topics: Knowing if you’re ready to buy or rent. Comprehension of the mortgage process and documentation needed. Home inspections, appraisals insurance, and closing process. Responsibilities of homeownership. Housing counseling Covers all topics included in education setting. MUST cover: Buy or rent decision. Establishing a household budget. Review of credit report. Preparation of a written action plan based on the client's individual goals.
Timing Homeownership education Typically occurs between loan application and closing. Earlier is better. Must be completed by closing. Housing counseling As early as possible. Before client selects a home. In order to meet $500 housing counseling LLPA credit, services must occur before a buyer enters a contract to purchase a home. Use SFC 184 and complete Form 1017. This LLPA credit is only available on HomeReady loans.
Requirements Homeownership education Required from a qualified provider* for at least 1 borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers. For purchase loans > 95%, regardless of the mortgage product chosen. For HomeReady^® and HFA Preferred^™ , regardless of LTV. For borrowers with no credit score, if all borrowers are non-traditional credit, completing homeownership education is required for at least 1 borrower, for all loans. A qualified provider must be independent of the lender, with homeownership education content that is aligned with National Industry Standards (NIS) or is offered by a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HomeView can be used to satisfy homeownership education requirements. Housing counseling* Housing counseling may be recommended for borrowers who: Are ineligible for a mortgage. Are facing complex challenges. Are in need of customized one-on-one assistance to be mortgage-ready. Note: Buyers who have completed housing counseling by a HUD-approved agency (as evidenced by a completed Fannie Mae form 1017 or course completion certificate) are not required to complete a homeownership education course.

Delivery method

Homeownership education

HomeView or homeownership education course from a qualified provider.
Education course provided by a Community Seconds^® or DPA provider.

Housing counseling

Services are unique to individual’s financial situation.
Services delivered one-on-one or via classroom, which may be in person, telephonic, video conference, or as per any other HUD-delivery standard.

Content

Homeownership education

Comprehensive curriculum and instructional goals.

Examples of topics:

Knowing if you’re ready to buy or rent.
Comprehension of the mortgage process and documentation needed.
Home inspections, appraisals insurance, and closing process.
Responsibilities of homeownership.

Housing counseling

Covers all topics included in education setting.

MUST cover:

Buy or rent decision.
Establishing a household budget.
Review of credit report.
Preparation of a written action plan based on the client's individual goals.

Timing

Homeownership education

Typically occurs between loan application and closing.
Earlier is better.
Must be completed by closing.

Housing counseling

As early as possible.
Before client selects a home.
In order to meet $500 housing counseling LLPA credit, services must occur before a buyer enters a contract to purchase a home. Use SFC 184 and complete Form 1017. This LLPA credit is only available on HomeReady loans.

Requirements

Homeownership education

Required from a qualified provider* for at least 1 borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers.

For purchase loans > 95%, regardless of the mortgage product chosen.
For HomeReady^® and HFA Preferred^™ , regardless of LTV.

For borrowers with no credit score, if all borrowers are non-traditional credit, completing homeownership education is required for at least 1 borrower, for all loans.

*A qualified provider must be independent of the lender, with homeownership education content that is aligned with National Industry Standards (NIS) or is offered by a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HomeView can be used to satisfy homeownership education requirements.

Housing counseling

Housing counseling may be recommended for borrowers who:

Are ineligible for a mortgage.
Are facing complex challenges.
Are in need of customized one-on-one assistance to be mortgage-ready.

Note: Buyers who have completed housing counseling by a HUD-approved agency (as evidenced by a completed Fannie Mae form 1017 or course completion certificate) are not required to complete a homeownership education course.

Homeownership Education

A clearer path to homeownership

Fannie Mae HomeView®

Additional Resources

HomeView features and benefits

Seven course modules guide borrowers through the steps of homeownership

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

Module 7

Homeownership Starts Here

Credit basics course in Spanish

Housing counseling

What is the difference between homeownership education and counseling?

Have questions?

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