NHS Brooklyn | Buying a First Home

First-Time Home buyer Program

Research has shown that home buyers who receive counseling and education before purchasing a property are eligible for superior mortgage terms from many banks and are less likely to go into foreclosure.

Our First-time Home Buyer Education Program:

is HUD-certified and approved
prepares you for the responsibilities of homeownership
empowers you to make smart home-buying decisions
connects you to the most affordable mortgage products as well as down-payment and closing cost assistance, if you qualify.

We offer a full suite of education options:

First-Time Home Buyer Webinars

Free 90-minute overview of the home buying process, our homeownership education program, grants, and assembling your home-buying team. Offered twice monthly except in December. Register Here for an upcoming date.

Home Buyer Certification

When you complete one-on-one counseling and our First-Time Home Buyer Education course, you'll receive a Certificate of Completion. This Certificate qualifies you to apply for down-payment and closing cost assistance from NHS Brooklyn for which you may be eligible and special first-time home buyer mortgages with our partner banks.

NOTE: You must take a mortgage from one of our partner banks in order to receive a grant from us. The grant you receive will be in addition to any grant your mortgage lender may provide. Grants may be layered (combined). We do not recommend going to a bank to pre-qualify for a mortgage before completing one-on-one counseling, because doing so will have a negative impact on your credit. Also, if the bank is not one of our partners, you will not be eligible for our downpayment or closing cost grants.

Here are the two required steps that you must complete to receive a Certificate of Completion:

Step 1: One-on-one counseling Includes personalized attention, credit review, and printout of your credit report with score. Required to receive a Certificate of Completion. We strongly recommend receiving one-on-one counseling PRIOR to taking the 10-hour Homeownership course.

To schedule a telephone appointment with a counselor, complete the Intake Form and submit it with all required documents by US mail to our office at 2806 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226 or call us for an appointment to drop them off. NO WALK-INS.

Make Payment

Please also submit $75 payment here for the first two people purchasing the home and $25 payment here for each additional person purchasing the home, if any. (No PayPal account? Sign in as a guest by clicking "Pay with Debit or Credit Card".)

Note: Please make payment within 72 hours of submission of your Intake Form and required documents to avoid deletion of your file.

After your packet is checked for completeness, a counselor will contact you to set up an appointment for telephone counseling.
Step 2: Homeownership course After one-on-one counseling and after the counselor has confirmed that you are "mortgage ready," he will approve you to take the 10-hour online course. Register and submit $100 payment here.

Home Buyers in Contract or With a Closing Date

If you found a house, made an offer that was accepted, and are now under contract or have a closing date, we may still be able to help. Note: Using this service will NOT help you get a grant faster, even if you are eligible. Please provide the details here.

Credit Report

If all you need is a copy of your credit report and score and do not need to review it with a counselor, submit a $25 payment here. (No PayPal account? Sign in as a guest by clicking "Pay with Debit or Credit Card".)

landlord training

NHS Brooklyn offers a Landlord Training course for current and future owners of 2- to 4-unit homes. This course meets HUD Education requirements for loans and grants.

The two-hour session provides what every owner needs to know about NYC regulations, fair housing and lease rules, and multi-unit property insurance.

Certificate of Completion

After the webinar, you will receive a Certificate of Completion

Course Outline

Maintain Your Property’s Market Value
Leases: Starting, Renewing & Ending
Make Your Home Energy-efficient
Landlord’s Responsibilities:

HPD Residential Building Registration
Inspecting a Rental Unit for Safe and Sanitary Conditions
Garbage and Recycling
Sidewalks & Snow Removal Rules
Heat Season Rules
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Window Guards
Lead Paint & Asbestos

**Course fee includes Certification for HUD Education Requirements, which is necessary for certain loan and grant applications. HUD Certifications are valid for 12 months from issue date**

The course fee is $100 and includes course materials.

Enroll and pay for an upcoming date here.

affordable property management

We offer affordable property management services to landlords and owners of small (1-4 unit) properties who live on their property and to those who don't. For more information, go here. or contact Isanna Saxon, Property Management Administrator, at 718-469-4679 x1207.