• Counseling – to help you assess whether you are ready to purchase a home.
• Education – to teach you basic home ownership concepts - money management, principles of borrowing, how to shop around for the right house, and how to work with realtors, appraisers, and attorneys.
• Planning – how to find a house, finance a purchase, and overcome poor credit history.
• Maintenance – learn the skills you need to stay in your home, including routine maintenance, how to purchase insurance, budgeting for repairs, and avoiding debt.

How It Works

Once you are accepted into the Home ownership program, you will participate in counseling to assess your readiness to purchase a home.  If you’re ready, you will attend classes (generally four two-hour evening or weekend classes, but this can vary) and develop a home ownership plan.  If you’re not ready, you will develop a plan with your  coach to get you to the point of readiness.  We’ll work with you every step of the way.

Co-Opportunity staff are certified in housing counseling, and housing and financial education.

Who Qualifies

Our free programs are for first time home buyers who meet income guidelines that vary from program to program.  Programs are available in Hartford, New Haven, and Meriden.  You must be prepared to work hard developing and executing your success plan, believe in your ability to own your piece of the American Dream, and to be committed to learning.  We’ll go the distance with you, but you’ve got to go the distance with us. 

Other Programs

We offer training for small landlords (people who want to buy a two-family home), guidance on how to use Section 8 Certificates as a mortgage payment, and classes and counseling in avoiding eviction, foreclosure, and predatory lending.

Getting Started

Over 150 families have successfully purchased homes with our help in recent years. 

For more information on how you can successfully purchase a home, please contact Gary Evans, Director Housing and Community Development, 860-236-3617, ext. 100, or info@co-opportunity.org

Co-opportunity is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Major funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, City of Hartford CDBG Program, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.