The best journeys
bring you home

Wherever you’re starting, we’ll be with you at every step. Our First-Time Homebuyer program includes a comprehensive set of resources to help you get prepared, understand your options, and make decisions that work for you.

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Benefits

Financial Confidence

We know homeownership is a big deal. Our team will help you understand your finances, build a personalized Action Plan, explore Down Payment Assistance programs, and build stability so you can purchase your first home with confidence.

Choice & Clarity

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Our one-stop-shop gives you access to expert guidance, resources, and referrals — so you can make informed decisions on your own timeline.

Trusted Guidance

We’ve been serving homebuyers since 1991, with a proven track record. Our team includes HUD-Certified Housing Counselors, financial educators, a dedicated lending team, and bilingual staff. We know this process first-hand, because we’ve been through it too.

How it works

  • Plan

    After registering for the program, you’ll complete your one-time $99 materials fee and meet with your HUD-Certified Housing Counselor, who will be with you every step of the way — from the very beginning until your keys are in hand. Together, you’ll gain clarity on your finances, review your credit report, and create a personalized action plan with clear steps to take toward your goals.

  • Learn

    Build your knowledge of homeownership through homebuying and financial education courses. You’ll understand budgeting, credit, and the homebuying process with more clarity.

  • Connect

    We’ll guide you on how to find and choose the right professionals for your homebuying journey. From interviewing and selecting a real estate agent to scheduling a home inspection, you’ll learn what to look for and how to make informed choices. You can find trusted partners through our partner referral list, including the professionals you meet in class.

  • Home Financing

    When you’re ready, you can meet with a loan officer from our lending team to explore your loan options and get pre-approved, so you can start your home search.

  • Buy

    Our partner referral list can help you build your homebuying team to find a home that meets your needs, budget, and goals. This list includes vetted and trusted lenders and real estate professionals with a proven track record working with first-time homebuyers.

  • Maintain

    Our education and resources don’t stop once you’re a homeowner; our Homeowner Success Program will help you prepare for home maintenance, repairs, taxes, and estate planning to set you up for long-term success in homeownership.

Step in and get started.

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What awaits

Homebuyer Assessment & Counseling

Receive one-on-one counseling with a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor. Whether you’re ready to buy in months or years, you’ll have guided direction and someone in your corner through any challenge or question. Together, you’ll build an action plan based on your finances and goals, to strengthen credit, pay down debts, increase your savings, and budget for homeownership.

Financial Education Classes

We offer multiple 5-part series that give you the tools and money management skills to get you ready for purchase. These series cover topics like budgeting your money, building your savings, and improving your credit: Financial Fitness, Decide Tu Futuro and Getting Your House in Order.

Culturally Specific Financial Education

Our culturally specific financial education courses are designed to be relevant and responsive to the communities they serve. Getting Your House in Order is created for clients who identify as Black or African American, and Decide Tu Futuro is for our Spanish-speaking clients. Each course is led by instructors who share these cultural backgrounds, ensuring the content is clear, practical, and grounded in real experience.

Homebuying 101 Class

Available both online and in-person, this 8-hour, HUD-Certified class shows you what to expect in the homebuying process, including shopping for a loan, special programs for first-time homebuyers, the house search, inspecting and insuring your home, and maintaining and protecting your investment.

Down Payment Assistance

Homebuying with support. We offer a variety of down payment assistance options for eligible first-time-homebuyers.

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IDA Matched Savings Account

Our support is tangible. Through the Oregon IDA Initiative, eligible first-time homebuyers save in a special savings account for a minimum of three months and will have their savings matched at a rate of $5 for every $1 saved. As a participant, this means you can receive up to $10,000 for your home purchase.

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Homeowner Success Program

Once a homeowner, our Homeowner Success Program can help you become more knowledgeable and learn how to build and protect equity in your home. The program includes group workshops, one-on-one post-purchase support, and resource sharing on important topics like home repair, estate planning, and energy efficiency.

Your journey home starts here

Step by step, we’re here to bring you closer to home. Register for our program to book your first appointment.

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FAQ

  • We’re excited to start this journey with you. You can register online here for our First-Time Homebuyer Program or by filling out our registration form and returning it to us, and completing the $99 materials fee.

  • Once registered, you’ll meet with a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor to go over your finances and determine the best next steps for you. We’ll review your credit along with debt and savings to help you get started on your homebuying journey.

  • An IDA is an Individual Development Account, a matched savings account program through the State of Oregon. These accounts and the matching program have helped many of our program participants save for their first home.

  • We do. At Arrive, we have a partner referral list of experts you can add to your homebuying team if you choose, but it isn't mandatory. This panel is made up of mortgage and real estate professionals, screened by us and trusted by our participants.

  • If you currently own your home, our Homeowner Success Program is the best fit for you.

  • Unfortunately, no. To be considered a first-time homebuyer, you can't have owned a home in the last 3 years. However, if you find yourself looking to purchase again our Mortgage Lending services are here for you!