Our Next Workshop - June 25 & 26

Our next workshop will meet on June 25 & 26 at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Newburyport. To register email EOLeary@CoastalHB,org. 

April Workshop

 After a successful workshop in March, our in-person workshops are up and running again. Our next workshop, meeting in downtown Newburyport, is already half full. We will meet on April 23 and 24 from 10 am to 3 pm. For more details or to register, email EOLeary@CoastalHB.org. 

In-Person Workshops Return

We have returned to our two-option format. Our next in-person workshop will meet in downtown Newburyport on March 19 & 20, 2022 from 10 am to 3 pm. We also have the Framework online option, a series of modules that you do in your own time followed by a one-on-one consultation conducted by phone. To register for either, please send an email to EOLeary@CoastalHB.org. 

Our In-Person Workshops

We are again scheduling our in-person workshops. The proposed dates are listed under "Proposed Workshop Schedule - 2022". Please check in by emailing EOLeary@CoastalHB.org to check availability, times, and meeting places. 

Workshop Cancelation

 We are canceling the workshop scheduled for August 28 & 29, 2021 due to low enrollment and increased Covid concerns. We are offering you a few options.

1. Register instead for one of our upcoming dates. September 25 & 26, October 23 & 24, November 20 & 21, or December 11 & 12. Of course, these plans are all pending on the same factors we are dealing with now. I wish I had better news.
2. Do the Framework program online through us. You would still pay $100 to get your certificate - $75 to Framework for the program itself and $25 to Coastal for a one-on-one consultation conducted by phone. You would then sign up for Framework, pay them $75, and we would bill you $25 for the consultation. Framework is a set of 7 modules that you do in your own time. You do not have to attend something like a Zoom meeting. You can register using the link below.

Home - Framework Homeownership

Two Options --- In-Person and Online

 We have two ways buyers can get a first-time homebuyer certificate - either by taking our in-person first-time homebuyer workshop ($100 per household) meeting in Newburyport or by taking the Framework online course ($75 per household) followed by a one-on-one consultation ($25) conducted by phone.

Buyers completing the in-person workshops get the CHAPA certificate, which is good for Mass Housing, the MHP One Mortgage, and other more local programs offered by local lenders. The workshops meet from noon to about 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Newburyport. The address and parking arrangements are given to all registered households. We are not able to accommodate walk-ins.

Buyers doing the Framework program go through a set of seven modules, in their own time, answering a set of questions at the end of each module. Some people complete the program in a day or two, others may take longer depending on how often they log on. Once they have completed all the modules, we schedule a phone call in which they get to ask any questions they may still have. Those who complete the Framework program get the nationally recognized HUD certificate.

Occasionally a buyer takes the in-person workshop but later gets into a mortgage program that requires a HUD certificate. They can then take the Framework program, but I will waive the consultation.

When people ask me which first time homebuyer program is better, it’s difficult to say because each has its own advantages. The in-person workshop includes guest speakers who actually work in their field, their area of the whole real estate process. Participants get to ask questions of a home inspector, a lawyer, a realtor, or a mortgage originator. I explain it as a safe harbor. You can ask questions without having to make decisions. This may be better for people just starting out, who are just learning about the whole idea of buying their first home.

The Framework program, though, can be done quickly without having to wait for our next scheduled workshop. Occasionally I hear from people who are closing on their home very soon but now realize they need a certificate. They may need it within a week or just a few days. The Framework program is for them, especially if we just finished a workshop and won’t have another one that month.

The best time to take a first time homebuyer workshop is as early in the process as possible. People who take it at the end have consistently told me over the years that they wish they had taken it sooner.

So now we have two options. In-person and online. If you have any questions, please email me at EOLeary@CoastalHB.org. Our schedule is listed on our blog and each workshop is listed on the CHAPA site.

Ellie O’Leary, Executive Director, Coastal Homebuyer Education Inc.

Our Workshops Are Coming Back - August 28 & 29

We are starting in person workshops again as of the last weekend in August, meeting in downtown Newburyport - the complete address and other details will be sent to everyone registered. The fee is $75 per household and preregistration is required. To register and receive further details email Ellie O'Leary at EOLeary@CoastalHB.org.