FAQ

Do you pull my credit?

• We do have the capability to pull clients’ credit reports through our partner Credco. These are soft pulls and do not affect credit scores. We obtain authorization prior to pulling these so clients can opt out.

Will a previous bankruptcy affect my ability to get a mortgage?

• It is a possibility. Always check with your lender regarding mortgage loan qualifications.

I am buying outside of Brown County; can I still go through the program?

• Yes, many lenders outside of Brown County accept our homebuyer education class, as well as the online eHome version. Some down payment and closing cost programs are restricted to various areas, but there are statewide programs as well. Consult with your lender for more specific recommendations.

Does NeighborWorks Green Bay provide primary mortgages?

• No, currently NeighborWorks Green Bay only provides secondary mortgages in the form of loans for down payment and closing cost assistance.

Does NeighborWorks Green Bay provide money to help me pay my mortgage?

• No, currently we do not provide monetary assistance, but we can provide counseling for foreclosure prevention.

Does NeighborWorks Green Bay provide money for home repairs?

• Yes, we facilitate the City of Green Bay’s Home Improvement Loan Program which can provide loans for home repairs.

Should I take the homebuyer education class before or after talking to a lender?

• The earlier the better! The class covers all stages of the home buying process, from selecting the right real estate professional, to what to look for in a home, to what to expect at closing. You’re guaranteed to learn something from the class, but the earlier you take it the more help it will provide!

I am not planning on buying for a while, can I still take class now?

• The homebuyer education class certificate is valid for 2 years after completion. Be aware that your lender may have a different time frame.

I tried to sign up for class but can’t tell if the payment went through – can you confirm that I’m registered for class?

• When payment is processed and you are registered for class, you should receive an email confirmation and receipt. The email could be in your junk folder if you cannot find it. As a reminder, our system works best with Chrome so if you used a different browser you might have to re-register. Please call our office at 920-448-3075 with any other concerns.

I completed class and need my education certificate; how do I get it?

• A certificate will be available after completion of homebuyer education class and a counseling appointment. We do not give certificates directly to clients and instead send them to your lender.

How do I sign up for class?

• Select “Start Here” on the home page and we will get you started!

How much does the class cost?

• Our in person and zoom classes are $50 per household while online education through eHome America is $125.

What income documents are required?

We collect paystubs, W2s, Federal tax returns, government award letters, and profit and loss statements for self-employed individuals. You will receive a list from your housing counselor.

Do I always need to complete counseling?

• At NeighborWorks Green Bay our homebuyer education class is coupled with our counseling appointments. All need to be completed for certificates to be sent to a client’s lender.

I’ve completed my education through a different service, can I come to you for counseling?

• We require education to be completed through us at NeighborWorks Green Bay, so we do not accept a homebuyer education class performed through a different agency.

How long does the entire process take?

• We ask for 30 days to complete homebuyer education and counseling. We highly advise clients to complete this program prior to receiving an accepted offer to purchase.

I completed counseling months ago but am not receiving any funds from you, do I still need to let my counselor know if I have an accepted offer on a home?

• Yes! We need to collect some final details from you to close out your file. Please contact your housing counselor for more information.

What programs do you have?

• There are down payment and closing cost assistance funds available from NeighborWorks Green Bay, the city, the county, and the state. Please visit our page here which explains all programs.

Do you have funds available?

• Some of our programs run out of funds more quickly than others. Before putting an offer down contact your housing counselor to confirm that there are funds available for you.

I heard that you have grants, I’m a first-time home buyer, how much money can I get?

• Most down payment and closing cost assistance programs are loans. There are some that are forgiven after a certain amount of time, but most are required to be paid back. The qualifications differ for each program. We will discuss your specific eligibility at your counseling appointment.

Am I eligible for down payment and closing cost assistance?

• The qualifications differ for each program and are dependent on an income verification. We will discuss your specific eligibility at your counseling appointment.

Do I still need to provide income documentation if I am not receiving down payment and closing cost assistance from NeighborWorks Green Bay?

• Income documentation is used during the counseling appointment to create a more accurate budget so even if you do not receive funds from us, we do require it.

Do I have to pay back the assistance I receive from NeighborWorks Green Bay?

• Most of the down payment and closing cost assistance provided by NeighborWorks Green Bay is a loan in the form of a secondary mortgage, which does require repayment upon certain conditions.

Does my eligibility for down payment and closing cost assistance also mean I am eligible for a primary mortgage with my bank?

• NeighborWorks Green Bay does not pre-qualify anyone for a primary mortgage. Always check with your lender regarding mortgage loan qualifications.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to complete your program?

• No!

NOTE: If you have an impairment, disability, language barrier, or otherwise require an alternative means of completing this form or accessing information about housing counseling, please talk to NeighborWorks® Green Bay about arranging alternative accommodations.

NeighborWorks® Green Bay is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and/or families who have contacted us for assistance. We realize that the concerns you bring to us are highly personal in nature. We assure you that all information shared both orally and in writing will be managed within legal and ethical considerations and are kept confidential.

What is nonpublic, personal information?

• Information that identifies an individual personally and is not otherwise publicly available information, such as your Social Security Number or demographic data such as your race and ethnicity.
• Includes personal financial information such as credit history, income, employment history, financial assets, bank account information and financial debts.

What personal information does NeighborWorks® Green Bay collect about you?

We collect personal information about you from the following sources:

• Information we receive from you orally, on applications or other forms, such as your name, address, assets, and income.
• Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others.
• Information we receive from your creditors or employment references.
• Credit Reports.

What categories of information do we disclose and to whom?

We may disclose the following personal information to financial service providers (such as companies providing home mortgages), Federal, State, and nonprofit partners for program review, monitoring, auditing, research, and/or oversight purposes, and/or any other pre-authorized individual and/or organization. The types of information we disclose are as follows:

• Information you provide on applications/forms or other forms of communication. This information may include your name, address, employer, occupation, account numbers, assets, expenses, and income.
• Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; such as your account balance, monthly payment, payment history, and method of payment.
• Information we receive from a consumer credit reporting agency; such as your credit bureau reports, your credit and payment history, your credit scores, and/or your creditworthiness.
• We do not sell or rent your personal information to any outside entity.
• We may share anonymous, aggregated case file information; but this information may not be disclosed in a manner that would personally identify you in any way. This is done to evaluate our program, gather valuable research information, and/or design future programs.
• We may also disclose personal information about you to third parties as permitted by law.
• No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All the above information excludes text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

How is your personal information secured?

Within the organization, we restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you only to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information, and we train our staff to safeguard client information and prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or use.