FAQ

About the Organization

Q: What is NHS of Baltimore?
A: Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore, Inc. is a non-profit, HUD certified housing counseling agency committed to sustaining and creating homeownership in the Baltimore region.

Q: Is NHS of Baltimore a government agency?
A: No. Although we do receive some government funding and we work closely with city and state government to achieve our goals. Instead, NHS of Baltimore is an independent, private, nonprofit organization.

Q: Does NHS have its own home improvement contracting business?
A: No. NHS of Baltimore provides construction management services to homeowners who wish to make improvements. We have several reliable general contractors who work with us and our clients, providing quality workmanship at a fair price. These contractors have special certifications (such as for lead paint), and they are licensed and bonded. You may always suggest and select your own home improvement contractor.

Q: Are NHS of Baltimore clients protected against flipping and predatory lending practices?
A: Yes. Families who come to NHS of Baltimore before they start looking for a home are best protected against flipping and predatory lending. Your greatest defense against those who would take advantage of you is EDUCATION. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself and ensure you get the best mortgage for which you qualify. 

Q: What other kinds of services does NHS of Baltimore provide beyond those associated with home purchase and home improvement?
A: We also offer homebuyer education and financial fitness classes that will prepare to become a successful homeowner, as well as one-on-one counseling from HUD certified housing counselors. Additionally, we offer mortgage refinancing as well as other consumer loan products like Borrow and Save.

About our Consumer Education

Q: Does completing the financial literacy course make me eligible for anything?
A:  If you are interested in becoming a first time homebuyer, after taking this class, you will be one step ahead of other first-time homeowners in that you will have learned the foundations of how to make solid financial decisions.

Q: Is it a requirement to take a homebuyer education course before purchasing a home?
A: Although it is not required to purchase a home, it is strongly recommended that all first time homebuyers receive homebuyer education and counseling.  There are, however, certain mortgage programs and incentives that the city/state offers that require a person complete homebuyer education and counseling in order to be eligible for a particular grant, mortgage product, etc. 

Electing to take a homebuyer education course and attend counseling is an invaluable experience.  Purchasing a home can be a very dense process for the experienced homebuyer and even more daunting for the first-time homebuyer.  Our education courses and counseling address issues such as: affordability, budgeting, credit, the steps in the loan process, how to write an offer on a property as well as host of other topics.  The homebuyer course coupled with one-on-one counseling empowers the potential buyer to make decisions that will not only prove to be fruitful, but tools that can be used to strengthen the foundation of sustainable homeownership.