Services for homeowners

Looking to buy your first home? It can seem overwhelming and confusing. At Way Finders, we break it down into manageable steps to make it easier for you to accomplish your home ownership dream. Becoming a certified first-time homebuyer with Way Finders gives you the knowledge and confidence to make your house shopping efficient and effective. We cover finding, financing, and purchasing a home and provide you with one-on-one counseling.

Struggling to keep your home? Maybe you have fallen behind in your mortgage payments or are in danger of foreclosure. There are foreclosure prevention programs and emergency financial assistance for qualified homeowners. Way Finders will help you understand your options.

Browse this section to learn more about the home ownership services we offer.

First-time homebuyer classes and counseling

We offer monthly first-time homebuyer classes. Sometimes in person, sometimes online. We also offer them in English or Spanish. Our classes feature mortgage lenders, realtors, attorneys, inspectors, and insurance agents so you learn how to work with these real estate professionals.

After you complete your in-person workshop or online course, you will be able to schedule a one-on-one counseling session with a Way Finders homeownership specialist who will guide you and provide support throughout your homebuying journey. If you have any questions along the way, your specialist is there to help.

Way Finders is a CHAPA, HUD, and NeighborWorks certified organization. This means that our certified first-time homebuyers may also qualify for down payment assistance and have access to special first-time homebuyer mortgage products.

Ready to get started?

Create your account

Classes sometimes fill up. Create an account to get notified of upcoming class openings so you can reserve a spot.

Click to create your Way Finders account

Check our online calendar

Visit our calendar below to find out when the next workshops are happening.

Visit the event calendar

Start your first-time home buyer class today

We offer an online course that can be completed from your home and at your convenience. Start any time and go at your own pace!

Learn more

Downpayment assistance

Some local cities and towns have downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers. If you would like to become eligible for this free source of funding, you must:

  • Be income eligible first-time homebuyer – that means having an income below a certain level, and not owning a home anywhere within the last 3 years
  • Become a certified first-time homebuyer – that means take a HUD, CHAPA or NW certified class like the one Way Finders offers.

Way Finders administers the downpayment assistance program for Belchertown. If you are income eligible and have become a certified first-time homebuyer, your Way Finders homeownership specialist will explain these programs to you.

Other towns in western Massachusetts offer downpayment assistance.
Click here to view that list of towns.

Need to work on your credit?

Credit success is a financial education program that offers workshops, individual support, and guidance to anyone in the community. Our program helps families and individuals reach their financial goals, whether they want to buy a house or a car, pay off student loan debt, or learn how to build excellent credit.

Our credit success classes and counseling will help you bring up your credit score and save for that first home purchase.

Way Finders is a nonprofit housing agency. This means our credit counseling services are free, and our homeownership specialists work with you to help you meet your goals.

Together we will figure out how we can help you build or restore your credit score.

Learn more

Post-purchases classes

Our FREE post purchase workshop is available to all homeowners and includes valuable information and presentations on topics like:

• Construction rehabilitation loans,
• Seasonal home maintenance and home repair,
• Being green in and around your home,
• Weatherization,
• And much more!

Visit our calendar to find out when the next post purchase workshop is scheduled.

Way Finders Calendar

Fair housing for homebuyers

Fair housing laws don’t just protect renters. Illegal practices around home purchasing can include refusing to show homes in a certain neighborhood based on the buyer’s race; refusing to offer a mortgage to a protected borrower who is equally qualified as a white buyer; or offering less favorable terms to a protected buyer than a white buyer.

Housing discrimination is illegal under both state and federal law. Way Finders provides education, outreach, and counseling to prospective homebuyers to ensure everyone knows about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws.

Learn more about fair housing protections for homebuyers at the link below.

Fair Housing

Make your home more accessible for you or a family member

The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) is a state funded program that helps Massachusetts residents live more independently at home. It has very broad income eligibility requirements, making the program accessible to most applicants.

HMLP provides 0% interest loans between $1,000 and $50,000 to homeowners and small landlords for modifications to the primary, permanent residence of elders, individuals with disabilities, and families of children with disabilities. There are no monthly payments – loans are paid back if the property is sold or transferred.

Learn more

Foreclosure and Emergency Financial Housing Assistance

When it comes to foreclosure, you don’t have to face it alone.

Western Massachusetts homeowners facing foreclosure and who are at risk of losing their homes can access one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling with a Way Finders HUD Certified Housing Specialist. We will discuss your financial situation with you, then offer guidance on how best to avoid default or foreclosure. As part of the session, a certified homeownership specialist will help you explore possible ways of addressing your mortgage situation.

You can schedule a foreclosure intervention counseling session by either
1. Creating an account here or
2. Emailing homeownership@wayfinders.org
When emailing, please understand that overwhelming demand means it can take several business days to receive a reply.

Emergency funding for homeowners (RAFT)

The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program helps keep households in stable housing when faced with foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $7,000 in a 12-month period to preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover overdue mortgage payments, overdue utilities, and moving costs.

If you are a homeowner who needs this assistance, you must apply directly to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the link below.

Learn more and apply

Need assistance?
Visit or call one of our Housing Centers, or email info@wayfinders.org. When emailing, please understand that overwhelming demand means it can take several business days to receive a reply.