ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SERVICES

SCCOAH’s staff, most of them certified housing counselors, assist clients with housing hurdles. The Housing Resource Center currently assists over 3,200 clients through one-on-one counseling each year. We provide housing counseling or assistance to anyone who contacts us regardless of where they live or their income level. We charge no fees for our services. We provide individual pre-purchase, post-purchase, pre-rental, post-rental, delinquency and foreclosure, homeless and reverse mortgage/senior counseling. Anyone requiring help is urged to make an appointment to come and meet with their assigned housing counselor.

Appointments are given between the hours of 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday thru Friday.

Appointments can usually be made by calling (908) 203-4560.

SCCOAH is the only housing non-profit organization in Somerset County that strives to help any individual or family eliminate their housing hurdles in order to meet their housing goals.

Pre-Rental

Pre-rental counseling is for clients who have never rented before, or who are currently renting, but wish to learn about their rental options. These clients are provided with rental search assistance and other resources that would benefit their situation. SCCOAH counselors can help clients learn about both market rate apartment options and affordable housing rental options.

Pre-Purchase

Pre-purchase counseling is for clients who feel they are ready to purchase their first home. There are many factors to consider and be aware of before individuals and families make the decision to buy a home. SCCOAH counselors provide comprehensive and customized pre-purchase counseling to their clients in order to make the home buying steps easier. SCCOAH has formed partnerships with banks, attorney’s, Realtors, Home Inspectors and credit counselors to assist clients with the purchase process. Clients that appear to meet all criteria are counseled on down-payment/grant programs. By counseling potential homebuyers about the issues involved with owning a home our goal is to remove any barriers and prepare them to become mortgage-ready.

Delinquency/ Foreclosure Counseling

Delinquency/foreclosure counseling is intensive in-person counseling that SCCOAH counselors can provide to help homeowners facing problems with paying their mortgage and other housing obligations. If homeowners have fallen behind on their mortgage, homeowners association fees or real estate taxes due to reasons that are now resolved, SCCOAH counselors may be able to prevent a foreclosure or a lien that could put their home in jeopardy. Once a family works hard to obtain homeownership, SCCOAH does not want them to lose their home, and wants them to be aware of the options that exist to prevent that from happening.

Senior Housing Options/ Reverse Mortgage Counseling

With a range of subsidized and non-subsidized senior housing options and programs available in Somerset County, finding appropriate and affordable accommodations for low- to moderate-income seniors raises a number of questions. SCCOAH counselors are able to help older residents and their families.

For homeowners that are 62 years of age and want to reside in their home but are having financial difficulty, a Reverse Mortgage may be a viable option. There are different types of Reverse Mortgages, however all of them are similar in certain ways. With a Reverse Mortgage, you remain the owner of your home just like when you had a forward mortgage. You are still responsible for paying your property taxes and home-owner insurance and for making property repairs. There are no payments due on the Reverse Mortgage for as long as the Homeowner(s) remain in the dwelling. The loan becomes payable when the home is sold, or when the last remaining person listed on the deed of the home passes away or no longer resides at the property. Reputable lenders don't want your house; they want repayment. A requirement of a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is to get a “Housing Counseling Certificate” from an approved counseling agency. SCCOAH provides this type of counseling and provides the required certificate.


	ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SERVICES SCCOAH’s staff, most of them certified housing counselors, assist clients with housing hurdles. The Housing Resource Center currently assists over 3,200 clients through one-on-one counseling each year. We provide housing counseling or assistance to anyone who contacts us regardless of where they live or their income level. We charge no fees for our services. We provide individual pre-purchase, post-purchase, pre-rental, post-rental, delinquency and foreclosure, homeless and reverse mortgage/senior counseling. Anyone requiring help is urged to make an appointment to come and meet with their assigned housing counselor. Appointments are given between the hours of 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday thru Friday. Appointments can usually be made by calling (908) 203-4560. SCCOAH is the only housing non-profit organization in Somerset County that strives to help any individual or family eliminate their housing hurdles in order to meet their housing goals. Pre-Rental Pre-rental counseling is for clients who have never rented before, or who are currently renting, but wish to learn about their rental options. These clients are provided with rental search assistance and other resources that would benefit their situation. SCCOAH counselors can help clients learn about both market rate apartment options and affordable housing rental options. Pre-Purchase Pre-purchase counseling is for clients who feel they are ready to purchase their first home. There are many factors to consider and be aware of before individuals and families make the decision to buy a home. SCCOAH counselors provide comprehensive and customized pre-purchase counseling to their clients in order to make the home buying steps easier. SCCOAH has formed partnerships with banks, attorney’s, Realtors, Home Inspectors and credit counselors to assist clients with the purchase process. Clients that appear to meet all criteria are counseled on down-payment/grant programs. By counseling potential homebuyers about the issues involved with owning a home our goal is to remove any barriers and prepare them to become mortgage-ready. Delinquency/ Foreclosure Counseling Delinquency/foreclosure counseling is intensive in-person counseling that SCCOAH counselors can provide to help homeowners facing problems with paying their mortgage and other housing obligations. If homeowners have fallen behind on their mortgage, homeowners association fees or real estate taxes due to reasons that are now resolved, SCCOAH counselors may be able to prevent a foreclosure or a lien that could put their home in jeopardy. Once a family works hard to obtain homeownership, SCCOAH does not want them to lose their home, and wants them to be aware of the options that exist to prevent that from happening. Senior Housing Options/ Reverse Mortgage Counseling With a range of subsidized and non-subsidized senior housing options and programs available in Somerset County, finding appropriate and affordable accommodations for low- to moderate-income seniors raises a number of questions. SCCOAH counselors are able to help older residents and their families. For homeowners that are 62 years of age and want to reside in their home but are having financial difficulty, a Reverse Mortgage may be a viable option. There are different types of Reverse Mortgages, however all of them are similar in certain ways. With a Reverse Mortgage, you remain the owner of your home just like when you had a forward mortgage. You are still responsible for paying your property taxes and home-owner insurance and for making property repairs. There are no payments due on the Reverse Mortgage for as long as the Homeowner(s) remain in the dwelling. The loan becomes payable when the home is sold, or when the last remaining person listed on the deed of the home passes away or no longer resides at the property. Reputable lenders don't want your house; they want repayment. A requirement of a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is to get a “Housing Counseling Certificate” from an approved counseling agency. SCCOAH provides this type of counseling and provides the required certificate.