Feb 6, 2015 2 min read

Community Action Southwest’s home ownership center offers free individual appointments with certified housing counselors trained to assist area residents with home buying, credit repair or foreclosure prevention.

With homebuyers, counselors certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development work with residents to determine what they can afford. They also review their credit scores, determine how credit scores can be improved when needed, discuss options for down payment assistance and explore pre-qualification for suitable loan programs.

For those who already own a home, counselors work with residents to help them refinance when needed and to enroll them in programs designed to prevent foreclosures through the national Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Initiative.

The agency also provides links to other support services at Community Action Southwest, including its weekly series of financial literacy classes. Additionally, listings of local real estate agents, homebuilders, lenders and insurers, as well as local housing programs including those offered through the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County, also are available.

Community Action Southwest’s home ownership center receives funding through Washington County’s Local Share Account of gambling revenues from The Meadows Casino, the United Way of Washington County, HUD and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Additional information is available at 724-225-9550, extension 421.