Let us guide you on your path to HomeOwnership!

The HomeOwnership Center is the "one-stop shop" for helping West Virginian's begin and sustain successful homeownership. Through a collaborative partnership we help families obtain a new home where they can create a bright future, and show continued support to help educate homeowners and prevent mortgage delinquency as needed.

The Housing Counseling Program is proud to offer the following Counseling and Education Services:

• Pre-Purchase Counseling is offered in an one-on-one setting and is provided to educate individuals and families on the process of home ownership.  This includes preparing individuals and families to become mortgage ready.  There are no income restrictions.
• Homebuyer Education is an eight hour course offered on the second Friday of every month or on special arrangement.  This class focuses on budgeting, credit, lending, inspection, shopping for a home, predatory lending, and preventative maintenance.
• On-line Homebuyer Education is offered through eHOME America, under circumstances in which on-site Homebuyer Education is not the best fit for the client.
• Delinquency/Default Counseling is an one-on-one session and usually is of an urgent nature.  Counselors will work with clients to reassess their financial status, reconfigure budgets, and develop plans to prevent foreclosure.
• Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase Education is offered in a classroom setting.  This four hour session has a specialized curriculum that involves learning about energy efficiency, maintenance and home repair activities, and financial maintenance and refinancing.
• Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Counseling is offered in an one-on-one setting.  Most often clients need information on repair programs and maintenance related issues.  These clients usually have short term counseling needs, which involve advocacy, referral and case management activities by the Housing Counselor.
• Rental Counseling is education on creating a better financial future and becoming a desirable tenant. Our specialized rental counselor will help you develop a personalized spending plan and provide you with advice for saving money, increasing income, and reducing debt. We will work with you to understand why credit matters, what is an affordable rent payment, common landlord requirement, understanding lease agreements, and basic tenant rights and affordable housing options.
• Fair Housing literature is available to all clients. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant woman, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).The Housing Counselor will assist with the completion and filing of the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form, provide Fair Housing and ADA education materials, and will work with the WV Human Rights Commission for referrals when necessary. 

WV Human Rights Commission Discrimination Complaint Forms

Click here to see our feature story in The Bridge: Housing Counseling Benefits Rural America

Check out our Counseling & Education Programs page for a detailed description of each course.

To sign up for any of these classes, contact Theressa Nichols at 304-363-0860 ext 127 or at tnichols@fmhousing.com