Homeownership Consultant

BASIC JOB FUNCTION
Provide comprehensive housing counseling and education services that support the creation and retention of homeownership opportunities consistent with the NHS mission. The Homeownership Consultant will provide group training and one-on-one counseling to NHS clients in connection with home purchase, foreclosure prevention and financial capability as assigned.

 

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Homebuyer Education and Pre-Purchase Counseling.

·    Serve as an instructor for the NHS eight-hour homebuyer education curriculum, offered evenings and weekends, covering: (1) homeownership readiness and affordability, (2) money and credit management, (3) types of properties and financing available, (4) applying for a mortgage loan, (5)  the closing process, and (6) post purchase money management and home maintenance.

·    Conduct other group workshops and presentations on home purchase, credit building and financial capability as assigned.

·    Provide one-on-one pre-purchase housing counseling to support clients in meeting their housing goals including: (1) analysis of financial situation, (2) affordability assessment based on income and debt, (3) credit report review and identification of challenges, (4) assessment of capacity to qualify for a mortgage (5) development of an action plan to overcome barriers to achieving homeownership.

·    Conduct client follow up to facilitate the homebuying process and document outcomes.

Foreclosure Prevention

·    Provide one-on-one counseling to clients at risk of foreclosure to preserve their homeownership including the following:

·       Assess client’s mortgage and payment status.

·       Work with client to document and analyze their financial situation and develop loss mitigation options.

·       Create a written action plan for foreclosure avoidance or client’s preference.

·       Communicate with the servicer and submit a loss mitigation package to the servicer on behalf of the client when applicable.

·       Provide client and servicer follow up and document outcome.

·       Provide client with referral information for additional community services.

·       Conduct foreclosure prevention workshops and participate in outreach events as required.

·       Document and report all counseling activities, outcomes, and outreach in NHS counseling databases for internal tracking and external reporting to funders on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis as required.

·       Document and store client files in a manner consistent with established protocols.

·       Maintain required job skills, core professional competencies and required certifications. 

·       Participate in required educational programs, trainings, and staff meetings.

·       Participate in outreach activities to promote and provide NHS services in the community.

·       Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS

·       Flexible work schedule, including ability to work some nights and Saturdays.

·       Proficiency in Windows-based software; Demonstrated ability to learn and use databases, customer tracking, and other software.

·       Experience working with a CRM such as Sales Force and with call center software such as 5nine.

·       Knowledge of the components of the housing counseling program and home buying process.

·       Ability to compare financial information and calculate mortgage affordability analysis.

·       Ability to communicate effectively both orally and written.

 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
 

Education

o   Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.

 

Experience

o   Two to four years of experience in housing counseling, credit counseling, mortgage lending/processing, or real estate sales preferred.

o   Proven knowledge of HUD guidelines.

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

•        Valid driver’s license with access to a safe, reliable vehicle for extensive travel associated with the position.

 

•        NHS offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.  We also offer a team spirit, which strives for excellence in customer service.

 

COMPETENCIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

·       Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

·       Project Management- Completes projects on time and budget.

·       Interpersonal Skills- Focuses on solving conflict.

·       Written Communication- Presents numerical data effectively.

·       Teamwork- Contributes to building a positive team spirit.

·       Strategic Thinking- Identifies external threats and opportunities.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:

·       regularly required to talk or hear.

·       frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms.

 

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is of a typical office environment.

 

REMOTE WORK POLICY

The Homeownership Department staff work on a 3/2 schedule requiring a minimum of 2 days in-office, in addition to any in-office time as necessary for important meetings, team meetings, all staff meetings, audits, site visits by funders, agency events, etc., including twice monthly in-person team meetings.