First Time Home Buyers

First Time Home Buyers
It’s called “The American Dream” and owning a home can be a major step in securing your financial future.  It’s also the biggest purchase most people will ever make.  For many first time home buyers, the process may seem overwhelming: trying to get approved for the loan, looking at dozens of houses to find the perfect home, not to mention the stress of closing.

Pre-Purchase Counseling
CCCS is happy to provide a one-on-one first time home buying counseling sessions for individuals and families who are planning to buy a home.  Your housing counselor will provide you with the tools you’ll need to work with realtors, mortgage companies, attorneys, etc. in the purchasing of a home.

Post-Purchase Counseling
Have you recently purchased your home and now you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by being a homeowner?  We offer post-purchase counseling sessions where you can learn how to be a successful homeowner.  Your housing counselor can help you set up a realistic household budget to live within your means, meet your payment obligations and save for major purchases and repairs.

First Time Home Buyer Workshops
CCCS offers 8-hour First Time Home Buyer Workshops to help take the confusion and uncertainty out of the home buying process.  Our workshops are free of charge and provide information on financing options, pre-qualifying for a mortgage, down-payment assistance programs, working with a realtor, making an offer on a home, home inspections, home owner’s insurance, closing a loan transaction, and maintaining a home. We also educate the potential homeowner on ways to reduce energy costs, and what to look for in an energy efficient home.
Attendance at a home buyer workshop is required if you are planning on participating in the City of Savannah’s DreamMaker down payment assistance program or the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Georgia Dream Loan program. 

Please contact our office to sign up for the next available workshop or counseling session: call 912-691-2227 or email your information to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Foreclosure Prevention

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
If you think you may not be able to make your mortgage payment, the best time to get help is before you miss a payment.  If you are already behind on payments, it’s not too late to get help.  Remember to stay in your home for now; if you abandon your property you may not qualify for assistance.
Your housing counselor can work with you and your lender to review what options are available to prevent foreclosure. 

Contact CCCS as soon as possible for an appointment by calling 912-691-2227.

 

Please be cautious of what company you choose to work with when getting help with a modification.  A lot of companies claim to help but charge an upfront fee.  To learn more about how to spot or report a scam, visit http://www.loanscamalert.org/.

HomeSafe GA

HomeSafe Georgia   

The purpose of the program is to help Georgia homeowners who have experienced job loss or a substantial decrease in their income with a mortgage payment bridge while they find new or better employment.

To apply, the Georgia applicant must be…
-Currently unemployed, or
-Currently substantially underemployed, or
-Currently able to make their mortgage payment, but got behind while they were unemployed or underemployed.

For more information or to start the application process, please click here to visit the HomeSafe website.

SC HELP

Purpose: To help families stay in their homes or otherwise avoid preventable foreclosure.

Eligible Applicants: Responsible borrowers who are facing the possibility of foreclosure due to circumstances beyond their control. For example, unemployment, death of a spouse, catastrophic medical expenses and/or divorce.

How to Apply

• A SC HELP approved housing counselor will guide you through the application process.  Please note that CCCS is an approved housing counseling agency and you can get started by calling our office at 800-821-4040.
• Apply Online at www.scmortgagehelp.com.
• Call Center support is available for homeowners who do not have internet access.  Call toll free 1-855-HELP-4-SC (1-855-435-7472).

Reverse Mortgage

Reverse Mortgage Counseling
A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is a service available to homeowners 62 years of age and older that allows the homeowner to tap into the equity of their home.  Information is provided on the alternatives, options, benefits, costs, potential tax consequences, and responsibilities of using this resource to access equity in the home.  If you are considering a Reverse Mortgage, you must attend a counseling session with an approved agency.  A computer amortization and HECM certificate are provided to each participant.

For more information on Reverse Mortgage Counseling, please call CCCS at 912-691-2227.