Buying a home can be a worthy – but sometimes confusing and overwhelming – goal to achieve. LCW’s Homeownership Center supports members of the community in becoming knowledgeable and stable long-term homeowners by emphasizing financial literacy, mortgage readiness, anti-predatory lending education, and consumer protection.

Pre-purchase counseling is available for individuals by appointment. Counselors conduct housing and financial assessments, order and review credit reports, conduct mortgage affordability and readiness assessments, help develop action plans, and will support you and your family throughout the home purchase process.

To set up an initial intake appointment, contact info@lawrencecommunityworks.org.

LCW’s Homebuyer seminars cover every step of the pre-purchase process with a complete curriculum that includes house-hunting, working with realtors, inspections, budgeting for sustainability, and choosing appropriate financing. Workshops are offered each month, alternating in English and Spanish, through both in-classroom and virtual formats.

To sign up for an upcoming FTHB workshop, visit our Events page to register.

Our pre-purchase workshops and counselors are certified by NeighborWorks America, UnidosUS, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), and MassHousing. Online formats are available via a self-paced Framework HBE Online option or LCW-moderated Zoom workshops.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COMPLETELY

Before signing up for Framework or LCW-moderated Zoom workshops be aware Framework is an alternative and, not a substitute. As per CHAPA guidelines the Framework class is for folks who can’t find a first time homebuyer course through MyMassHome counseling. Due to time constraints and workload we require that closings be at least 2 weeks away. Lawrence CommunityWorks reserves the right to ask someone who is registered through our portal to have their Framework information moved to another Housing Counseling Agency to complete their advising session if it doesn’t meet our time frame. Feel free to call 978-722-2627 or email wrosario@lawrencecommunityworks.org before signing up on our portal for Framework to see if we can meet your deadline.

**Framework charges $75.00 and non-profits charge a $25.00 advising fee. This fee is payable to
Lawrence CommunityWorks in advance as well as registration forms that must be completed. No
advising scheduling will take place until these steps are completed. We also require a Purchase and Sales
agreement, Loan estimate, two paystubs and budget for all Framework advising sessions in advance of
the appointment Please check with your lender on specific deadlines with Framework in order to meet
your closing deadline.

Counseling services for homeowners at risk of or in mortgage default. Counselors will work closely with you to determine your options and provide information on the foreclosure process. They can assess financial hardships, conduct financial and credit assessments, review loan terms and mortgage documents, and help develop a crisis spending plan to stabilize your situation in the short-term. Counselors will also provide support with applying for and negotiating loss mitigation options with lenders or help develop exit transition strategies that avoid a foreclosure.

To set up an initial intake appointment, contact info@lawrencecommunityworks.org.

For small existing landlords or homebuyers interested in purchasing a multi-family home, our Landlord Training workshops help owners learn tips on how to be a fair and just landlord, sound business practices in managing their property and tenants, tenant selection, tenancy laws and the legal eviction process, understanding the Section 8 Housing program, Fair Housing, lead abatement and working with real estate professionals.

To sign up for an upcoming Landlord Training, visit our Events page to register.

Recent homebuyers or existing non-delinquent homeowners can deepen their knowledge in order to maintain success as a homeowner. The workshop covers a variety of homeownership topics, services and financial products targeted to homeowners such as financial planning, wealth building and equity preservation, refinancing, Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit, property insurance, taxes and tax abatements, building community and maintaining safety, energy efficiency and others.

Counseling services are also offered for homeowners seeking to resolve a specific homeownership situation such as maintenance projects and repairs, filing a tax abatement, refinancing or applying for other financial products.

To sign up for an upcoming HomeSafe training, visit our Events page to register.

To set up an initial counseling intake appointment, please contact info@lawrencecommunityworks.org.

Thank you to Cambridge Trust for their sponsorship of LCW’s 2023 First-Time Homebuyer Programs