Working with a credit counsleor will help you pay off debt fast and manage your personal finances more efficiently. Our free credit advice is personalized to your unique situation.
The details on your credit report, like your credit score, directly impact your everyday financial well-being. Your credit score influences your ability to secure the best interest rates on loans, helps you qualify for housing, rentals or a mortgage, and even plays a role in obtaining employment for certain types of positions.
Your credit report can influence your ability to find housing, employment and secure a loan. Knowing your score and understanding your report are the first steps towards your financial health. Our certified financial counselors will guide you through your credit report, answer questions, and give personalized guidance towards improving your score.
Learn about the process of getting a bank account with BankOn. Learn all there is to know about opening a bank account and the responsible usage of the bank account.
Speak with a Debt Coach to review all your options and discuss the best strategies for getting debt relief. We’ll point you in the right direction, whether that’s DIY debt relief or a debt program, like Debt Management Plans or Debt Settlement.
Debt is common and manageable. Our certified financial counselors are standing by ready to answer your questions, provide guidance, and help you reach your financial goals. Speaking to one of our certified debt counselors is completely free. Our counselors will be able to review all of your options for getting out of debt and guide you toward the best path forward.
A financial counselor will help you determine whether a Debt Management Plan is your best path toward effectively managing debt levels. Once you enroll in a plan, we become your personal advocates, working closely with you and your creditors to pay off debt in a timely fashion.
Debt settlement is a process that allows you to pay off debt by paying a single lump sum that is lower than the total amount you owe. Settlements are achieved through negotiation between lenders and consumers or a third-party debt settlement company. Our counselors will help you assess if debt settlement is the best debt relief option for you.
Credit.org is an Executive Office for United States Trustees ‘EOUST‘ approved agency. Our experienced financial counselors work with people in all stages of their financial life, including the challenging decision of bankruptcy. Our cousnelors can help you obtain the certificate you need to file for bankruptcy or discharge debts in bankruptcy.
Credit.org offers expert student loan counseling to help you manage your education debt. Our certified counselors guide you through loan repayment options, consolidation, and strategies to alleviate student loan stress. Get personalized assistance to navigate your student loan journey and find the best solutions for your financial goals.
Whether you are current on your mortgage payments, experiencing a financial hardship, or ready to begin your homeownership journey, take action and reach out to a HUD Certified Housing Counselor today!
Work with our HUD Certified Counselors who will assess your current mortgage needs and help guide you to the options that are best suited for your specific situation.
If you are 62 or older, have equity in your home, and are considering a Reverse Mortgage loan, it is important to speak with one of our HUD Certified Counselors to understand the benefits and risk of this product.
Our award-winning counselors are here to help prepare you to own a home. We provide education, resources, and guidance to make your home buying process efficient, stress-free, and rewarding.
Don’t start your home buying journey without getting the facts first! Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or someone looking to get back into home ownership, you will need a well laid plan. Our HUD-approved Home Buyer Classes will help you navigate the home buying process and equip you with useful tools & resources for purchasing a home.
If you are seeking guidance regarding renting, call us to speak with one of our financial counselors who will help you develop a budget, create a detailed action plan, and who can provide you with local, statewide, and national resources.
Community Affordable Loan Solution™ is designed to create homeownership access for clients who have never envisioned themselves as a homeowner. Credit.org has partnered with Bank of America to assist first-time homebuyers with pre-purchase counseling and homebuyer education.
Credit.org has partnered with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta to provide your pre-purchase or owner-occupied credit counseling.
Helping San Diego County, Riverside County & San Bernardino County residents CLIMB to financial freedom!
Homeownership comes with many responsibilities. You’ll be obligated to pay more taxes, maintenance and upkeep, insurance, prepare for emergencies, keep financial records, and more. It’s natural for us to constantly remind new and aspiring homeowners of all of these responsibilities. But there are many homeowner benefits as well.
Benefits of homeownership:
Shelter—this is one of the primary essentials for life; keeping a roof over one’s head. Being a homeowner means never having to worry about finding shelter.
Security—a home provides physical and financial protection for you and your family. Knowing your kids are safe in your home makes all of the responsibilities of homeownership worth it.
Control—a homeowner can decide how the house will look, whether and how to improve the property, etc. When it’s your house, you get to make decorating choices without having to get anyone else’s approval.
Finances—a home is a great investment if you’re in it for the long term. The idea isn’t to get rich quick by “flipping” a property. If you invest in your home over a lifetime, and you own it outright, then you have a place to live rent-free during your retirement years. The importance of this can’t be overstated.
Accrual—if you make improvements to your home, you reap the benefits in increased property value. Everything you do to make your house better has the potential to reward you financially.
Taxes—there are many property tax obligations that drain homeowners, especially retirees whose homes have increased in value over the years. But those who are still paying off their mortgages get a mortgage interest deduction to make buying a home a bit easier.
Equity—if you build up equity in your home, then you have stored value you can access during an emergency, either through a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a second mortgage. You should ONLY tap into your home’s equity during a bona fide emergency. During your retirement years, a Reverse Mortgage can be a great option to turn your home’s equity into a source of income.
Credit—having a mortgage in good standing can be great for your credit score. You’ll have far fewer credit troubles if you prove yourself to be a responsible homeowner.
Homeownership is the greatest source of wealth accumulation for Americans. Nearly one-third of American wealth is in home equity. This is a benefit anyone can attain if they take the steps to become homeowners.
If you’re trying to become a homeowner, or if you’re trying to save the home you already have from foreclosure, call us today and get HUD-approved homeownership counseling and education.
Article written by
Melinda Opperman
Melinda Opperman is an exceptional educator who lives and breathes the creation and implementation of innovative ways to motivate and educate community members and students about financial literacy. Melinda joined credit.org in 2003 and has over two decades of experience in the industry.