Purchasing a home may be the largest investment in a person’s lifetime. While the idea of becoming a homeowner is exciting, there are many factors to consider. Hale Mahaolu’s Homeownership / Housing Counseling Program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved Comprehensive Housing Counseling agency providing housing and financial counseling to individuals and families looking for information that can help achieve their current financial goals. The program offers both individualized in-person and group counseling services on a variety of topics including First-time Homebuyer Education, Pre-purchase and Post-purchase non-delinquency counseling, Mortgage delinquency/default counseling, Rental counseling, Student Financial Life skills coaching, and education workshops in Fraud and Scam Prevention.
Since 1989, Hale Mahaolu has been a HUD-Approved Comprehensive Housing Counseling Agency servicing the entire State of Hawaii with a primary focus on Maui County (Maui, Lanai and Molokai) residents. HUD Certified Housing Counselors offer counseling services and workshops at no charge. There is a fee to attend the 8-hour Homebuyer Educational course.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, counseling sessions and workshops are currently being transitioned to an online format.
Funding for the program has come from various sources:
Three Ways Housing Counselors Can Help (YouTube)
COVID-19 Mortgage Forbearance: Understanding how to repay (CFPB Website)
Please choose only ONE of the options below
Hale Mahaolu’s Homebuyer Education Classes help potential homebuyers understand the ins and outs of the home buying process. The class is split into three 2-hour sessions covering the following topics:
To receive the Homebuyers Education Certificate of Completion, attendance for all three days plus a 1-hour Pre-Purchase counseling session is required.
To register for the virtual class: https://halemahaoluhbclass2.eventbrite.com
Cost $75.00 per household
Cost includes: Class Manual, Financial Binder, and Certificate of Completion
2024 Homebuyers Education Classes
** Class dates and times are subject to change.
Virtual Homebuyers Education Class Schedule for January to June 2025 (PDF)
Contact info: Marlynn at 808-242-7027 Monday – Friday or 808-283-2665 the day of the event.
Cost $75.00 per Household
Take Ownership of Your Future
Buying your first home (or your fifth!) comes with a lot of questions. Like, how much is the average down payment? Hint: It’s not 20%! Framework Homebuyer Education is the key to answering your questions before you need to ask them, so you can take on the steps with greater peace of mind and make smart financial decisions.
Framework is the only online homebuyer course designed by experts in online learning. The course is comprehensive and will prepare you with all the facts you’ll need to navigate every step of the home buying process. You can learn at your own pace using your laptop, tablet, or even cell phone. To get started, click on the Framework graphic below.
Online class registration:
A Pre-purchase counseling session is required before the online Homebuyer Certificate is issued.
Contact info: Marlynn at 808-242-7027 Monday – Friday to setup your individualized counseling session.
Click to download: Pre-Purchase Counseling Intake Packet (PDF)
*Please use Adobe Reader if you are filling out the forms electronically. You will not be able to digitally sign otherwise and your data may not show up in our system.
Pre-purchase counseling allows the homebuyer to ask our counselors questions or get additional clarifications in preparation for their home purchase. Topics of discussion may include:
At times homeowners may find themselves struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments. Counselors can help homeowners negotiate available options with their loan servicers. Homeowners will be able to make informed decisions when resolving their housing issues. Topics of discussion may include the following:
A key component in effectively resolving many homeownership issues is active client participation. As a good faith effort in exchange for receiving counseling services at no cost, clients must take an active role in resolving their homeownership issues; this in turn will lead them to successfully achieving their housing goals.
Click here to complete the Initial Screening.
What is an IDA Program?
An Individual Development Account (IDA) program is a special matched savings program designed to help low-to-moderate income families achieve economic success through understanding the importance of savings towards the purchase of an asset. The purpose of the program is to encourage First-time Homebuyers in developing a savings plan and sustainably building funds designated for the down payment or closing costs of purchasing a home.
Length of Program: Two Years
Target Savings Amount: $5,000
Ratio of Matched Funds: 2:1 ($10,000)
Who is eligible to participate in the program?
The IDA program targets homebuyers with incomes below 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI – adjusted by household size) and who show potential to manage monthly mortgage payments of up to $2,500. Thirteen participants will be selected for the program who must agree to attend a Homebuyer Education class reinforcing their knowledge of the homebuying process. Workshops will cover important credit practices, effective budgeting, utilizing the benefits of Credit Unions, Homeowner’s Insurance, and other topics related to homeownership. Attendance of all classes and workshops will be required. Additional requirements will be reviewed by a counselor upon completion of form and a follow-up.