Orange County residents have access to free First-time Homebuyer Workshops Today’s ever-increasing cost of living makes the goal of owning a home out of reach for an increasing number of Central Floridians. Recognizing this reality, Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County stepped up to empower individuals and families with the knowledge and resources they need to prepare for the process of buying their first home. In partnership with Orange County Government, Habitat Orlando & Osceola expanded its First-time Homebuyer Workshop to host classes twice a month, once in English and once in Spanish. "We are grateful that Orange County partnered with us to educate more residents on all the essential topics of homeownership,” said Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County President and CEO Catherine Steck McManus. "Our program exists to ensure first-time homeowners are successful at both home buying and maintenance so that families can stay in their homes.” First-time Homebuyers Workshops are HUDcertified, free, and open to all, whether you’re looking to purchase a home through Habitat or on the open market. Attending a First-time Homebuyer Workshop is also a requirement to apply for Orange County’s down payment assistance program. Covering vital topics ranging from understanding credit and navigating down payment assistance programs to understanding property titles, working with real estate agents, and securing homeowners' insurance, the 8-hour workshops provide a foundation of knowledge for those eager to embark on the journey to homeownership. Habitat Orlando & Osceola housing counselors as well as local community partners including bankers, property inspectors, and title and insurance agents facilitate the workshops. In the first year of the workshop, over 250 aspiring first-time homebuyers attended. The collaboration between Habitat Orlando & Osceola and Orange County Government to expand the workshops not only showcases the power of public-private partnerships, but also both organizations' commitment to making homeownership accessible to residents. By hosting two workshops a month, the initiative aims to minimize language and accessibility barriers, ensuring that homeownership is within reach for more Central Floridians. “Our support for first-time homebuyers is not just an investment in homes, it's an investment in the foundation of our community,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “Empowering individuals with knowledge and resources to achieve homeownership strengthens families and builds our region's prosperity and stability." When the nonprofit originally introduced its First-time Homebuyer Workshops in June 2023, they were originally offered exclusively in English. However, with 26.2% of Orange County residents being Spanish speaking, the nonprofit recognized the need to cater to the growing Latino community. 2 2 / THE MIDTO W N P R E SS
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