About the Program
The Duke Homebuyers Club is a free resource that connects Duke employees and their family members with financial literacy, one-on-one counseling and homebuyer resources to prepare them for first-time or renewed home ownership.
Sessions focus on topics such as the home purchasing process, budgeting, saving and building or repairing credit, and working with realtors, lenders, home inspectors and contractors. Community partners such as Community Empowerment Fund, Reinvestment Partners and Habitat for Humanity of Durham are invited to make presentations to the group as well as work with members one-on-one.
Participants who complete 8 hours of classes and a one-on-one counseling session are eligible for a HUD certificate which can support homebuyers in qualifying for various Below Market Rate (BMR), Below Market Program (BMP), and Down Payment Assistance (DPA) homebuyer programs and or loans.
Meetings: 2nd Thursdays from March – December, in-person
Homebuyers Club for 2024 is full with a waitlist.
Join listserv to receive information for next opportunity to join in Feb 2025
In Partnership with:
Homebuyers
In 2022, six members bought homes and seven others were prequalified
Determined homebuyers applied their learned knowledge and honed their savings and financial skills through attending 133 hours of club meetings and completing over 171 hours of one-on-one counseling sessions. There were about 68 active members in 2022.
Homebuyers Club Resources
History
Duke Homebuyers Club was launched in the Fall of 2013 out of a failed housing initiative in which Duke employees in the services industry were the target. Although homes were available for purchase the targeted employees were unable to access the purchasing opportunity due to credit scores. Homebuyers Club was created to fill that gap by providing free resources that connect Duke employees and their family members with financial literacy and homebuyer resources to prepare them for their first-time ownership.
Since the Fall 2013:
Homes Bought
Hours of Education
Awarded HUD Certificates
Topics have included:
- Hopes & Dreams
- Student Loans
- Budgeting 101
- Qualifying for a Mortgage
- Visioning Boards
- Chat with a Realtor
- Duke HR Package
- Learn from an Inspector
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