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.
Additional Resources
- HUD Housing Counseling Program
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Finding a Housing Counselor Tool
- Housing Counseling Overview
- Fannie Mae.com consumer website
- Disaster Response
HomeView features and benefits
Seven course modules guide borrowers through the steps of homeownership
Module 1
Knowing When You’re Ready
Module 2
Saving for Homeownership
Module 3
Understanding the Mortgage Loan Process
Module 4
Shopping for a Home with a Real Estate Agent
Module 5
Making an Offer on a House
Module 6
Getting Ready to Close on Your Loan
Module 7
Welcome to Homeownership!
Homeownership Starts Here
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
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 | |
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| Delivery method |
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| Content |
Comprehensive curriculum and instructional goals. Examples of topics:
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Covers all topics included in education setting. MUST cover:
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| Timing |
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| Requirements |
Required from a qualified provider* for at least 1 borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers.
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:
Note: Buyers who have completed housing counseling by a HUD-approved agency are not required to complete a homeownership education course. |
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Delivery method Homeownership education
Housing counseling
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Content Homeownership education Comprehensive curriculum and instructional goals. Examples of topics:
Housing counseling Covers all topics included in education setting. MUST cover:
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Timing Homeownership education
Housing counseling
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Requirements Homeownership education Required from a qualified provider* for at least 1 borrower if all borrowers are first-time homebuyers.
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:
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. |
