First-Time Homebuyers
Curious to see if you’re ready to buy your first home? We can help!
Participants in our homebuyer programs work on household budgets, how to navigate the steps of a mortgage, and setting goals to transform the dream into reality. Where ever you are in the path to homeownership, we have services to lend a helping hand.
The first step? Download the Homeownership Education and Counseling packet and return to us, and a homeownership specialist will connect with you to discuss what program works best for you, as well as other community resources you may qualify for.
Homebuyer Education Workshop
Scott County CDA provides a 12-hour Homebuyer Education Workshop that helps prepare interested first-time homebuyers for homeownership. Participation in this workshop qualifies participants for the education requirement for the grant program. The workshop will include presenters and group activities on topics such as:
- Budgeting
- Credit, such as factors that influence your credit score and how your score impacts your mortgage loan
- Mortgage loans and what to expect at closing
- Real estate overview, such as finding the right agent
- What to expect for your home inspection
- Home maintenance
This program has a $25 registration fee.
Contact sgauthier@scottcda.org for more information.
First-Time Homebuyer Classes
2020 Workshop Schedule
Friday, February 21, 12-6:15 p.m.
Saturday, February 22, 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Held at Shakopee Police Training Room, 475 Gorman St., Shakopee
Tuesdays, April 21, 28, and May 5, 4-8:15 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 12-6:15 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Locations in Shakopee TBD
Homebuyer 1:1 Counseling
We offer one-on-one counseling services with certified Home Purchase Counselors to assess your homeownership readiness and develop individualized plans with those interested in purchasing their first home. This program is free to participants, but you will need to pay the small fee for us to pull a current copy of your credit report.
To participate, please complete and return the registration fee and forms below to the CDA office:
Attn: Homeownership
Scott County CDA
323 Naumkeag St
Shakopee, MN 55379
Homebuyer Grant
If you have successfully completed the CDA’s counseling and education courses and are close to purchasing a home, you may qualify for a $4,000 down payment or closing cost grant. You must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing a home in Scott County and meet income and other loan requirements to be eligible. Please call (952) 402-9022 or see the grant criteria for more information about how to qualify. Grant monies are currently not available for 2019 home purchases. Please contact us if you meet our grant criteria and are planning to purchase a home in 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
The course lasts 12 hours and generally meets 6 hours over 2 days or 4 hours over 3 days. You must attend all 12 hours to graduate from the course and qualify for the grant.
A registration fee of $25 per household is requested prior to participation in the workshop, however, households can request a reduced or waived registration fee if needed.
If you have successfully completed the CDA’s counseling and education courses and are close to purchasing a home, you may qualify for a $4,000 down payment or closing cost grant.
You must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing a home in Scott County and meet income and other loan requirements to be eligible. Please call (952) 402-9022 or see the grant criteria for more information about how to qualify.
Grant monies are currently not available for 2019 home purchases. Please contact us if you meet our grant criteria and are planning to purchase a home in 2020.
Yes. Framework is an online homebuyer education course that is an accepted education course by many lenders, possibly qualifying homebuyers for grants or other loan benefits. The Framework certification, however, does not meet the education requirement of the Scott County CDA grant.
Yes. Spanish Homebuyer Education Workshops are 8-hour workshops presented in the Spanish language are offered in Scott County by partner agencies, CLUES and NeDA. CLUES and NeDA also offer classes in Spanish in different locations all year long. These workshops meet the education requirement for the Scott County CDA Grant Program and include the same topic areas as the 12-hour course outlined above.
To register, please use the contact info below:
NEDA
Phone: 651-292-0131
Text: 855-292-0131
Fax: 651-292-092
https://nedahome.org/
CLUES
Phone: 612-746-3500
Fax: 612-871-1058
http://www.clues.org/
Yes. Please call or email us and we’ll work with you to make arrangements.
About Framework Online Courses
Whether you’re buying a home for the first time or fifth, you need to be proactive. With homebuyer education, you can be.
Framework is the only online homebuyer course designed by experts in online learning. It’s comprehensive, so you’ll have all the facts you need to navigate every step of the buying process. And you can learn when, where, and how you like. It even works on your smartphone.
Ready to learn more? Watch the video below or visit the Framework website by clicking here.
Framework meets many lenders’ requirements for homebuyer education, but check with yours to make sure an online course is acceptable. The cost of this course is $75.