Home Buyer Education & counseling
Step Up Acadiana
We are a non-profit organization in Lafayette, Louisiana that provides homeownership education, pre-purchase counseling, pre-foreclosure counseling and high-cost loan counseling.
Partnerships & Donors
Are you ready to buy a home?
If you answer “yes” to a majority of the questions below, then you probably are!”
If not, don’t worry. We will help you turn a “no” into a “yes” with our free pre-purchase counseling.
- Do you have a checking and/or savings account established with a bank, credit union or other financial institution? Or, if you don’t, do you keep accurate records of paying your bills regularly and on time?
- Do you have a continuous, reliable source of income?
- Do you have some money saved for closing costs?
- Do you pay your bills on time?
- Do you have time to devote to buying a home right now?
- Do you have money to cover moving expenses?
- Is your total monthly debt (all credit cards, car loans, etc.) manageable? Can you afford those debts and a mortgage?
- Do you file an income tax return with the IRS each year, even if you are not a U.S. citizen?
- Are all of your routine financial obligations accounted for in your total debt?
- Do you have some money saved for a down payment? Some programs will allow gift funds or funds from state and local programs that offer down payment assistance and grants.
- do you have time to take care of a house- including responsibilities like mowing the lawn and making repairs?
- Have you been employed continuously for the past two years, even if it has not been the same job, and are likely to continue?
- On a monthly basis, can you afford the mortgage payment as well as other expenses including electricity, water, repair and maintenance costs?
How Does This Program Work?
Apply to our program
Fill out the intake form for pre-purchase one-on-one counseling as well as pre-foreclosure one-on-one counseling. Once submitted, you will receive a call to set up an appointment.
What to expect
During our one-on-one counseling sessions, we will talk about your income & expenses, guide you through creating a budget, and forecast your savings plan. If you are not working on your credit with someone or you are not aware of your credit scores, for a small fee we are able to provide a soft credit pull and give insight on how to improve your scores for loan-readiness.
Experience Your Growth
Our clients receive valuable coaching from industry experts. In addition, our staff are HUD-approved housing counselors and have the experience to assist our clients through their journey to achieve homeownership. Our goal is to bring you to 100% readiness to receive pre-qualification from a loan officer.
