In 2001, we initiated our first time homebuyer education program, Homeward Bound. The program is designed to help you become a knowledgeable homebuyer by teaching you the concepts that are critical to your home buying process. Homeward Bound will give you the tools you need to be prepared and confident when you find the right home.

Homeward Bound is the only HUD approved, community-based, comprehensive homebuyer education course offered in the NH seacoast region.  When you graduate from the 8-hour program, you will receive a certificate of completion, satisfying the counseling requirements of many special loan programs* including those of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, Maine State Housing Authority, Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, and the City of Portsmouth’s HomeTown Program.

Seminars are offered in two formats, 4 nights over 2 weeks or a single all-day session. Each seminar session or group of sessions meets for a total of 8 hours and covers the full range of home buying concepts.

Seminar Agenda - Session 1: Nine Steps to Home Ownership, Building Your Financial House, Understanding Your Credit Report. Session 2: Understanding Mortgage Terms, and Shopping for a Mortgage. Session 3: Shopping for a Home, and Home Inspections. Session 4: Closing on Your Home, and Maintaining Your Home & Finances. (All-day seminars cover all subjects)

Program Director, Terry Spires has over 30 years experience in mortgage banking, specializing in residential lending. Terry maintains partnerships with NHHFA, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, REALTORS, banks, municipal programs, NHHFA, Rural Development, and counseling providers. Terry also has an extensive knowledge of low and moderate-income housing programs.
Seminars are offered with the help of professionals from the community who volunteer to present information from their fields. Volunteer presenters are from the real estate, home inspection, finance, credit counseling and title companies.	Terry Spires, program director

Funding for the Homeward Bound Program is provided by Bank of America, Citizens Bank, Piscataqua Savings Bank, and TD Banknorth. Additional support is provided by the City of Portsmouth, City of Rochester, Federal Savings Bank, NH Housing Finance Authority , Ocean Bank, the Seacoast and Strafford Boards of REALTORS, and the Town of Epping.

*Please contact these agencies directly for information on the types of special loan programs they offer and thier couseling requirements to become eligible.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of NH - VT
Get information on budget-counseling, debt management, credit report reviews, education and much more.

USDA Rural Development
Get information on homeownership opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation and repair, and guaranteed home loans.

January 15, 16, 22 & 23
Hosted by:
Federal Savings Bank
633 Central Avenue
Dover NH

February  9
Held at:
Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrot Avenue
Portsmouth NH

March 11, 12, 18 & 19
Hosted by:
Ocean Bank
110 South Main Street
Rochester NH

April 8, 9, 15 & 16
Hosted by:
Ocean Bank
853 Lafayette Road
Hampton NH
 
May 17
Hosted by:
Bank of America
144 Main Street
Epping NH

June 10, 11, 17 & 18
Hosted by:
TD Banknorth
28 Portsmouth Avenue
Stratham NH

September 9, 10, 16 & 17 Hosted by:
TD Banknorth
353 Central Avenue
Dover NH

October 14, 15, 21 & 22
Hosted by:
Bank of America
801 Islington Street
Portsmouth NH

November 15 - Rochester

Scheduled meeting times are 6 - 8pm for 4-night sessions and 8:30am - 4:30pm for the day-long sessions.
All sessions total 8 hours.

Register here.

Note: The Homeward Bound Program is intended as an impartial, community resource – not a lender, real estate agent or developer who might try to promote or sell a particular product or service.