WHAT IS A HUD-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY?
HUD provides support to a nationwide network of housing counseling agencies. These HUD-approved agencies provide tools to current homeowners, prospective home buyers, renters, homeless, and victims of disaster, so they can make responsible choices to address their housing needs.
WHAT IS A HOUSING COUNSELOR?
A HUD-approved housing counselor is an experienced, trained professional who can advise you on preventing foreclosure, buying a home, protecting your credit, and other issues. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country and counseling is available in many languages.
WHY WORK WITH A HOUSING COUNSELOR?
A housing counselor can talk to you about your situation and help you decide what mortgage options are best for you.
A housing counselor will:
- Explain what documents you will need to provide to your mortgage company
- Help you make a budget so that you can meet your monthly mortgage payment and other expenses
- Provide information about other helpful local resources
There is no charge to work with a HUD-approved housing counselor—help is free!
WHAT HUD-COUNSELING SERVICES DOES THE CITY OF GASTONIA PROVIDE?
The City of Gastonia is a HUD-approved counseling agency offering services for:
- Financial Management/Budget Counseling
- Pre-purchase Counseling
- Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
HOW DO I FIND AN AGENCY OR A COUNSELOR?
The City of Gastonia only provides pre-purchase housing counseling services. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country and counseling is available for different needs in many languages. Counseling services offered are for financial management and budget, pre-purchase, delinquency and foreclosure, and rental.
If you have missed any mortgage payments, are about to miss a payment, or if your loan already has been referred to an attorney for foreclosure, a HUD-approved housing counselor can help you assess your circumstances, identify your options and prepare you to talk with your mortgage company.
WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE I CALL FOR ASSISTANCE?
1. Gather your financial information
Make sure you have your basic financial and loan information on hand when you call. You’ll need:
- Your income details (paystubs and income tax returns).
- Your other monthly debt payments (e.g., car or student loans, credit card payments), and
- If applicable, your mortgage statements, including information on a second mortgage (if applicable)
2. Explain your current situation
Be ready to outline your current situation and explain your goals.
WHAT OTHER HUD RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
HUD offers an abundance of brochures that provide additional educational benefit to pre-purchase borrowers in need of counseling services.
First Time Housing Counseling & You
First Time Homebuyers-On The Money
Homeowners Keys to Success-Ownership
There are additional resources available on the HUD website. Please visit: https://apps.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm. For additional details, please contact our office at (704) 866-6752 or visit: https://apps.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm.
Offices for Housing and Community Engagement are located in the Garland Municipal Business Center at 150 S. York Street on the second floor.
Contact Information
Garland Municipal Business Center
150 S. York Street, Gastonia, NC 28052
(PO Box 1748, Gastonia, NC 28053-1748)
704-866-6752 (office)
704-866-6067 (fax)
Email
