About 60 residents of Delaware County attended AHCOPA's First Time Homebuyer event to learn about down payment assistance programs and other First Time Homebuyer resources available in Delaware County. AHCOPA was joined by representatives from Truist, WSFS, Citizens, and Fulton banks as well as local realtors from the Philadelphia Metropolitan Board of Realtors and Domain Real Estate Group. AHCOPA offers housing counseling services to Delaware County residents. Housing counseling is a valuable, and free, resource for first time homebuyers. Housing counselors work to expertly guide clients through the homebuyer process, including building their credit and navigating the many different lender and mortgage options. Housing counseling helps to break down barriers to homeownership and encourages lower and middle income families to successfully pursue homeownership. AHCOPA works throughout Philadelphia, and began serving Delaware County in June 2022, due to both sparse housing counseling agencies in the area, and a large racial homeownership gap. Homeownership rates for Black, African American residents in Delaware County fall behind those in Philadelphia County. Additionally, mortgage denial rates for Black residents in Delaware County are 24%, twice that of White residents. This has created a homeownership rate disparity of 77% for White households to 45% for Black households.
Housing counseling has a proven ability to increase mortgage approval rates, which is why AHCOPA is working with lending partners to better prepare Delaware County residents for homeownership. AHCOPA operates a satellite office in Upper Darby and provides virtual housing counseling, allowing residents of Delaware County to easily access AHCOPA’s homeownership services. Anyone interested in beginning the homebuyer process can register for a First Time Homebuyer Workshop at ahcopa.org/workshops. After completing the 4 hour workshop, attendees will be able to schedule one on one appointments with housing counselors who will guide them towards successful homeownership!
2 Comments
Hafiza Edwards
2/20/2024 10:17:44 am
Do you have anything in Montgomery county
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2/22/2024 08:20:12 am
Hello,
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