Housing Counseling Office

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the workshop is held monthly via ZOOM in two 2 ½ hour sessions from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Participants are required to attend both sessions and an individual credit and budgeting consultation to earn a certificate. The certificate is required for most down-payment assistance programs but is also recommended for anyone considering the purchase of their first home. Details for scheduling the individual consultation will be provided at the conclusion of the Thursday session. Please be aware that you will be required to provide a copy of your credit report and a completed budget worksheet at your individual consultation. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. For your convenience a copy of the budget worksheet is attached to your registration confirmation.

Workshops will be held on the following dates:

• How to Register: 
  • Complete Application https://frederickmd.gov/homebuyers 
  • If you have additional questions, contact us:  
• Income Limits - No Limit
• Service Area – All of Maryland
• Class Availability – Class size is limited to 40 participants (see registration page)
• Cost - Free 

We do not provide legal advice, but we can give both landlords and tenants information about their rights and responsibilities under Maryland law.  We can review your lease, discuss security deposit issues, rent court and the eviction process. Sometimes we recommend that clients obtain legal advice. 

• Eligibility – Landlords and tenants in Frederick County
• Income Limits – No Limit
• Service Area – Frederick County
• Cost – No Cost
• If you have additional questions, contact us

Protect the investment you've made in your home and ensure your long-term credit rating by learning the best course of action to take when you are behind in your mortgage payments. Our Housing Counselors will help you determine the direction that will best serve your needs. 

NOTE: If you are currently delinquent on your mortgage payments and have not contacted your lender, please seek this help immediately. The longer you delay in correcting this situation, the more your credit standing is adversely impacted, and your potential options are limited. 

• Eligibility – Homeowners that are delinquent on their mortgage payments
• How to Apply: 
  • Complete Intake Packet  Mortgage Default\Client Intake Packet (pdf)
  • If you have additional questions, contact us
• Income Limits – No Limit
• Service Area – All of Maryland
• Cost – No Cost

We provide support and guidance throughout a foreclosure crisis. We can assist you with filing the “Request for Mediation” form, gathering the necessary information needed prior to mediation and can even accompany you to the mediation. During mediation, we also assist you in obtaining the necessary information to file a mortgage assistance application. 

• Eligibility – Homeowners in default who want assistance with the Mediation process
• How to Apply: 
  • Complete Intake Packet  Mortgage Default\Client Intake Packet (pdf)
  • If you have additional questions, contact us
• Income Limits – No Limit
• Service Area – All of Maryland
• Cost – No Cost

We assist senior homeowners who want to decrease their monthly expenses or increase their cashflow in determining whether a reverse mortgage also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage is the right course of action. Our Housing Counselors provide the HUD required comprehensive HECM counseling to assure you understand how reverse mortgages work, to explore other options and to answer any questions you may have.

• Eligibility – All homeowners who are 62 years of age or older
• How to Apply: 
  • Complete Intake Packet  HECM\HECM Packet_Pre\Client Intake Packet (pdf)
  • Contact us for an appointment
• Income Limits – No Limit
• Service Area – All of Maryland
• Availability – All reverse mortgage counseling is done by individual appointment
• Cost –$100.00 (Fee may be waived based on income)

The Financial Empowerment Counseling Program is an educational initiative to assist all income families stabilize and improve their financial well-being. Specifically, counselor will work with a client in an individualized setting to set goals, repair credit, build a budget, and manage income and savings to achieve their financial goals.

• Eligibility – open to anyone who wants to stabilize and improve their financial well-being.
• How to Apply: 
  • Complete Intake Packet  Financial Coaching\Pre_Packet\Client Intake Packet (pdf)
  • Contact Steven Rose for an appointment - (301) 600-2077 / email:  srose@cityoffrederickmd.gov
• Income Limits – No Limit
• Service Area – Frederick County
• Class Availability (Done on a one-to-one basis)
• Cost –No Cost