Lydia’s House Services
We prepare prospective buyers through a variety of home buyer education services. In addition, Lydia’s House works with current owners to prevent foreclosure. Lydia’s House has adopted the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.
Foreclosure Prevention
To prevent foreclosure, Lydia’s House works with buyers to become mortgage-ready and market-savvy before entering into a mortgage contract with a bank. Additionally, we offer counseling and intervention for individuals who are struggling to keep their homes.
MARYLAND HOMEOWNERS – download the Homeowner Information Form and the Homeowner Information Worksheet and return to Maryland Office located at 1300 Mercantile Lane, Suite 141E, Largo, MD 20774. Phone:301-322-5353 | Fax: 301-322-5555.
Home Purchase Counseling
Housing counselors offer advice tailored to individual needs on topics ranging from personal credit to how to choose a realtor. We also offer group education on topics ranging from HPAP to credit to home purchase throughout the city.
Apply for DC’s Home Purchase Assistance Program. With Lydia’s House help, prospective home buyers can access down payment and closing cost assistance through the DC government’s Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) and receive a no-interest loan of up to $40,000.
As a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency, Lydia’s House must meet and maintain the criteria established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and carry out the functions stipulated in our housing counseling plan. Lydia’s House is also a District of Columbia government funded Housing Counseling Agency serving Ward 8 providing both foreclosure prevention and first time homebuyer counseling to low and moderate income residents of the District of Columbia. Lydia’s House currently employs six full-time housing counselors who have completed the HUD homeownership training and both the organization and our counselors have been certified by the National Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies.
In addition, our counselors have received certification in homeownership counseling, foreclosure prevention, default counseling, and community development from NeighborWorks Training Institute. Lydia’s House Senior Housing Counselor completed the Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling Certification Parts I and II. In addition two housing counselors passed NeighborWorks Foreclosure Basics training.
Our counselors also received training in “Your Money Counts” from HSBC North America and provides financial literacy training in Credit History; How to Read a Credit Report; Credit Score; Improving Your Credit Score; Correcting Mistakes on Your Credit Report; Coping with Debt; Avoiding Fraud; How Credit Works; Credit Cards; Using Credit Cards Wisely; loan Sources; Applying for a Loan; Types of Loans; The Cost of a Loan; and Repaying a Loan.
GED Training
Many people have a need for General Education Development leading to a GED. Some have recently left school without graduating. Others have been working for a number of years but still feel the need for a high school diploma. A high school diploma improves earning power, can provide entry into college, and gives a sense of success. Our goal is to help students complete our courses and learn the appropriate material. Lydia’s House provides GED training on Monday and Wednesday 1PM to 4PM. Visit the Lydia’s House office to register.