About this Course

The City of Oakland offers a 5-hour monthly Homebuyer Education Workshop to provide an overview of the home-buying process. Topics include: advantages and disadvantages of renting vs. owning establishing good credit basic budgeting and money management deciding how much you can afford roles of professionals in the home buying process down payment, closing costs and mortgage insurance requirements applying for a home loan closing and escrow responsibilities of being a homeowner additional resources for low- and moderate-income homebuyers Several local organizations provide counseling to individuals and families looking to purchase a home in Oakland and the Bay Area, or for individuals and families who may have received a notice of default or a foreclosure notice. City Hall: Hearing Room 3 is the location, the address is 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland CA 94612. You must attend both consecutive 2.5 hour sessions to complete the 5-hr class and receive the certificate. Class starts at 6:00pm, no admittance to the class after 6:30pm. Attendance is limited to participants who have registered, no guests. No pets. Please closely monitor children so as not to distract other workshop attendees. *** NOTICE: The workshop is open to all prospective homebuyers; however, applicants to the MAP mortgage assistance loan program must meet all eligibility requirements including the Oakland resident, Oakland worker/student or Oakland displacee requirement. Details regarding the eligibility requirements are available in the workshop or by contacting our office at 510-238-6201.