HUD-CERTIFIED HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELOR

Beyond Housing is a nationally recognized community development organization that works to strengthen families and transform under-resourced communities to create a stronger, more prosperous St. Louis region for all.

Our comprehensive model is built on the understanding that strengthening families and transforming under-resourced communities isn’t simple — it’s complex and requires a comprehensive, multipronged effort.

Over the years, we have created the infrastructure of staff, partners, programs, and relationships that is essential for fulfilling our comprehensive model in order to create a stronger St. Louis — once and for all.

Our work brings civic leaders, targeted nonprofits, corporate partners, and residents together to create meaningful and lasting change and is focused in the 24:1 Community — a community comprised of multiple municipalities within the Normandy Schools footprint in North St. Louis County.

Position Summary:

 Hub-Certified Homeownership Counselor works to build healthy communities and expand homeownership. As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency (HCA) and NeighborWorks’ Homeownership Center, Beyond Housing’s goal is to promote and support asset building, and ensure successful, sustainable homeownership for people of all income levels and backgrounds.

The HUD-Certified Homeownership Counselor is responsible for facilitating the HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling sessions, which include pre- and post-purchase group education classes and individual counseling sessions. As both an educator and a coach, the Housing Counselor provides information to enhance the client’s progress toward their goals. The counseling sessions may cover a broad array of areas related to the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to qualify for, finance, select, buy, and maintain a home.  Specifically, the homeownership counselor will assess the client’s readiness to purchase, analyze credit, budgeting, debt reduction, credit building, and current mortgage guidelines.  In addition, the HUD-Certified Homeownership Counselor can provide referrals to Beyond Housing community partners, including professional lenders, realtors, home inspectors, and property insurers. 

 Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitates and leads HUD-approved homebuyer education course and financial workshops.
• Updates course content and delivery utilizing adult education principles and participatory techniques.
• Conducts comprehensive individual one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Identifies the required tools and establishes a system for assessing mortgage-readiness status, triaging clients, identifying obstacles, developing strategies to address obstacles, assigning customer tasks, and facilitating clients’ progress toward their goal.
• Maintains schedule of appointments for counseling sessions including follow-ups to ensure client is working toward their identified goals.
• Maintains electronic file for each counseling customer that includes credit report, household financial analysis, income documentation, action plan(s), budget, referrals to service providers, and other information as necessary.
• Maintains and updates the client records both during and after each counseling session and adheres to strict codes of ethics and all policy guidelines established by HUD, NeighborWorks, as well as internally, including compliance and confidentiality of files.
• Ensures customer satisfaction is a priority of the counseling program.
• Assists other staff with assigned special projects and other tasks deemed necessary to achieve the overall goals and operate a successful homeownership program.
• Participates in the establishment of annual goals and outcomes for the programs.
• Performs all other duties deemed necessary by the Financial Advising Manager and/or Financial Advising Director.

Qualifications

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old and have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Bachelor’s degree with at least two years of experience in consumer credit counseling, housing, real estate, or case management.
• Familiarity with the home-buying and loan process, and general underwriting guidelines.
• HUD Certified Housing Counselor or ability to obtain HUD certification within 30 days.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated presentation skills, public speaking.
• Experience with office systems, computer literacy, and knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Power Point, OneDrive, Teams, and Outlook
• Strong project management, facilitation, and change-management skills.
• Ability to interact and articulate effectively and confidently with diverse individuals of all social and economic levels.
• Ability to work independently as a productive team member.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptive, and positive in a constantly changing environment. 
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends and maintain a flexible work schedule.

Supervisor:

• Financial Advising Director

Benefits:

• Full-time salaried position with benefits for full-time position as determined in current Beyond Housing Employee Handbook  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.  Beyond Housing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

At Beyond Housing, we are committed to promotingDiversity, Inclusion, and Equitythroughout our organization and culture. We strive to understand and appreciate the individuality of every employee and create a better place to work for all. We nurture a culture where everyone positively acknowledges equity through action and is aware, understanding, and appreciative of diversity.  

Our vision is to go beyond simple tolerance and fully embrace the things that make each person unique. We recognize that our employees’ differences support our ability to advance equity for the communities we serve. Further, we understand that equity is critical to the fulfillment of our mission to help entire communities become better places to live.