24 CFR § 982.630 - Homeownership option: Homeownership counseling.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t24/s982.630"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "24 CFR § 982.630 - Homeownership option: Homeownership counseling."
title_number: 24
title_name: "Housing and Urban Development"
section_number: "982.630"
section_name: "Homeownership option: Homeownership counseling."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "982"
part_name: "SECTION 8 TENANT-BASED ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 1437f and 3535(d)."
regulatory_source: "59 FR 36682, July 18, 1994, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "982"
---


# 982.630 Homeownership option: Homeownership counseling.

(a) *Pre-assistance counseling.* Before commencement of homeownership assistance for a family, the family must attend and satisfactorily complete the pre-assistance homeownership and housing counseling program required by the PHA (pre-assistance counseling).

(b) *Counseling topics.* Suggested topics for the PHA-required pre-assistance counseling program include:

(1) Home maintenance (including care of the grounds);

(2) Budgeting and money management;

(3) Credit counseling;

(4) How to negotiate the purchase price of a home;

(5) How to obtain homeownership financing and loan preapprovals, including a description of types of financing that may be available, and the pros and cons of different types of financing;

(6) How to find a home, including information about homeownership opportunities, schools, and transportation in the PHA jurisdiction;

(7) Advantages of purchasing a home in an area that does not have a high concentration of low-income families and how to locate homes in such areas;

(8) Information on fair housing, including fair housing lending and local fair housing enforcement agencies; and

(9) Information about the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (12 U.S.C. 2601 *et seq.*) (RESPA), state and Federal truth-in-lending laws, and how to identify and avoid loans with oppressive terms and conditions.

(c) *Local circumstances.* The PHA may adapt the subjects covered in pre-assistance counseling (as listed in paragraph (b) of this section) to local circumstances and the needs of individual families.

(d) *Additional counseling.* The PHA may also offer additional counseling after commencement of homeownership assistance (ongoing counseling). If the PHA offers a program of ongoing counseling for participants in the homeownership option, the PHA shall have discretion to determine whether the family is required to participate in the ongoing counseling.

(e) *HUD-certified housing counselor.* Any homeownership counseling provided to families in connection with this section must be conducted by a HUD certified housing counselor working for an agency approved to participate in HUD's Housing Counseling Program.

[65 FR 55163, Sept. 12, 2000, as amended at 89 FR 38304, May 7, 2024]