Education

We empower future homeowners by helping them make smart decisions during the process.

Education And Counseling

Our HUD-certified Housing Counselors help individuals navigate the entire housing spectrum, from renter resources, to the homebuying process, to home maintenance and financial stability.

For each of the stages in your housing journey, we offer detailed classes and personalized counseling to support you every step of the way.
Sign up for one-on-one counseling sessions by using our NHS Client Portal.

Core Courses

View all courses
01/07/2026
Virtual

Homebuyer Education

Our comprehensive course will guide you through the entire homebuying process. We’ll focus on budgeting, improving credit, searching for a home, the closing process and down payment assistance programs.

6:00 PM
01/13/2026
Virtual

Financial Literacy

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this workshop will prepare you for financial security. Learn how to develop a spending plan, reduce your debt, and increase your credit score.

6:00 PM
01/22/2026
Virtual

Foreclosure Prevention

We will help you better understand the foreclosure process by discussing home retention and explaining non-retention options, loan modifications, mediation and available mortgage assistance grant program information.

6:00 PM

All Courses & Seminars

Explore the categories below for a list of courses and seminars that best meet your needs.

Our comprehensive course will guide you through the entire homebuying process. We'll focus on budgeting, improving credit, the closing process and down payment assistance programs.

01/10/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday January 10th & 17th. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

9:00 AM
01/07/2026
Virtual

Homebuyer Education

Wednesdays January 7, 14, 21, & 28. Eight-hour course delivered in four 2-hour sessions. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs.

6:00 PM
01/24/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday January 24th & 31st. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

10:00 AM
02/04/2026
Virtual

Homebuyer Education

Wednesdays February 4, 11, 18, & 25. Eight-hour course delivered in four 2-hour sessions. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs.

6:00 PM
02/07/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday February 7th & 14th. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

10:00 AM
02/21/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday February 21st & 28th. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

9:00 AM
03/04/2026
Virtual

Homebuyer Education

Wednesdays March 4, 11, 18, & 25. Eight-hour course delivered in four 2-hour sessions. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs.

6:00 PM
03/07/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday March 7th & 14th. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

10:00 AM
03/21/2026
In-Person

Homebuyer Education

Saturday March 21st & 28th. Our eight-hour home buyer education seminar prepares you for the complicated process of buying a home. Learn about the basics of budgeting, improving your credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This two-day course is broken down into distinctive parts: The first day will cover an orientation to the home buying process and budget & credit basics. The second day will bring in expert realtors and loan officers to cover shopping for a home and the closing process.

9:00 AM

Our financial education workshop helps you prepare for financial security, whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply looking to improve your finances. Learn how to:

  • Develop a spending plan
  • Reduce your debt
  • Increase your credit score
01/13/2026
Virtual

Financial Capability

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this workshop will prepare you for financial security.

Learn How To:

  • Develop a spending plan
  • Reduce your debt
  • Increase your credit score
6:00 PM
02/17/2026
Virtual

Financial Capability

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this workshop will prepare you for financial security.

Learn How To:

  • Develop a spending plan
  • Reduce your debt
  • Increase your credit score
6:00 PM
03/10/2026
Virtual

Financial Capability

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this workshop will prepare you for financial security.

Learn How To:

  • Develop a spending plan
  • Reduce your debt
  • Increase your credit score
6:00 PM

Our 90-minute foreclosure prevention education workshop provides insight into the foreclosure process, loan modification options, mediation, forbearance, housing counselor assistance, and mortgage assistance grant programs:

03/19/2026
Virtual

Foreclosure Prevention

Our two-hour foreclosure prevention education workshop provides insight into the foreclosure process, loan modification options, mediation, forbearance, housing counselor assistance, and mortgage assistance grant programs

6:00 PM
02/26/2026
Virtual

Foreclosure Prevention

Our two-hour foreclosure prevention education workshop provides insight into the foreclosure process, loan modification options, mediation, forbearance, housing counselor assistance, and mortgage assistance grant programs

6:00 PM
01/22/2026
Virtual

Foreclosure Prevention

Our two-hour foreclosure prevention education workshop provides insight into the foreclosure process, loan modification options, mediation, forbearance, housing counselor assistance, and mortgage assistance grant programs

6:00 PM

Free 1:1 Sessions

Meet with a HUD-Certified Homeownership Counselor to:

  • Create a plan to achieve your financial goals
  • Get personalized advice for all your questions
  • Prepare for homeownership
  • Reduce housing costs and learn about available financial assistance
  • Avoid foreclosure and facilitate communication with your servicer

Sessions are available over the phone, zoom or in person, but slots fill up quickly!

Online Education at Your Own Pace

Complete Homebuyer Education with eHome, an online education tool. Proceed at your own pace through six modules, which are also available in Spanish. The regular cost of this course is $99, but use the discount code NHSC49 for a significant reduction in price to $50.

eHome also offers a free, self-paced foreclosure prevention course covering home retention options, the foreclosure timeline, and resources available to help save your home.

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Let’s Get Started

Sign up below to receive monthly notifications on courses and seminars being offered.

Have more questions? Email us at homeownership@nhschicago.org or call NHS Client Services at 773.329.4111.

Your generous support enables us to continue to make tremendous strides in advocating for working families while strengthening and stabilizing neighborhoods.