Behind on your mortgage? Buying your first house?

A call to Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) can be a real benefit to a mortgage-strapped homeowner, a potential homeowner, or a renter. CCCS, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, provides comprehensive services free of charge to help consumers achieve their housing goals.

These services, which are easily accessible by telephone and at several locations throughout North Georgia and South Florida, include individual and family sessions as well as Homebuyer Workshops that meet down-payment assistance program and mortgage product guidelines.

“Our certified counselors know that a home is more than just a roof and four walls. It is an important foundation for a family and usually the largest part of any family's budget,” CCCS President Suzanne Boas said. “We really hope consumers will take advantage of our free services to examine their options and make educated decisions.”

CCCS offers the following housing counseling and education services:

• Rental Counseling—Pre-occupancy or delinquency counseling offers advice after a thorough analysis of the consumer’s financial situation.
  
• Pre-purchase Counseling—A one-on-one session covers the basics of buying a house. Each client receives a user-friendly booklet covering the home-buying process. Pre-purchase clients may communicate with a counselor as often as they like for advice.
  
• Homebuyer Education Workshops—CCCS conducts group workshops explaining the home-buying process. These seminars are HUD-approved to meet down-payment assistance and special mortgage product education requirements.
  
• Post-purchase counseling—This counseling helps a consumer better manage expenses after buying a home and carefully consider decisions about second mortgages, equity loans, home improvement loans or refinancing.
  
• Mortgage Default/Delinquency Counseling—The main focus of this session is to help a consumer bring the mortgage current. Counselors help develop a priority budget and explain options available to save the property.
  
• Reverse Equity Mortgage Counseling—This session explains the advantages and disadvantages of a Reverse Equity Mortgage, a potential option for homeowners age 62 or older. A “reverse mortgage” enables a consumer to use home equity to increase income without moving out of the home or making regular loan payments.