Homeownership Center

The Road to Home is the HRDC’s homeownership center. We provide Homebuyer’s education, pre-purchase counseling, down-payment assistance, access to low-interest mortgages, post-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling, and other services to assist households in achieving and sustaining homeownership in Gallatin, Park and Meagher counties.

Homebuyer Services

Homeownership Education Courses

Are you ready to buy a home? What are the benefits of homeownership? How do lenders decide to make loans? Our nine hour, comprehensive homeownership education course, directed by a HUD-Approved Instructor, will help you to better understand the home purchase process. Topics covered include: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeownership; Assessing Homeownership Readiness; Understanding Credit; Managing your Finances; The Mortgage Process; Special Programs for First Time Buyers; Shopping for a Home, a Lender, and a Realtor; Closing Your Deal; and Maintaining Your Home and Your Finances after you purchase.

Completion of homeownership education makes you a smarter, better borrower, and may help you become eligible for down-payment assistance, low-interest mortgages, and matched savings programs.

The course is open to everyone and free of charge. Space is limited, so pre-registration and a refundable deposit are required.

You must attend an entire series (9 hours) to get a certificate.  Sign up for our next class series now!

Class Schedule and Information

Pre-registration is required.  Please contact The Road to Home Counselors at 585-4882 or email for application and availability.

Additional classes/alternate locations may be scheduled for groups of 5 households or more. Individual pre and post-purchase counseling is also available. Other classes are available statewide sponsored by Neighbor Works.

Pre-Purchase counseling

We offer one-on-one appointments for graduates of our homeownership education course to address pre- and post-purchase concerns.

Please contact HRDC ‘s Road to Home Staff (585-4882) to schedule an individual counseling session.

For a handout outlining what to bring to your counseling session, click here.

Down Payment Assistance

Road to Home Program provides up to $30,000 to eligible families for the purchase of their first home.  Please note that the following information only covers the basic requirements and that all loans are subject to approval by the Road to Home Program in accordance with the program’s full guidelines.  For the full program guidelines, please contact the Road to Home Staff directly.

Household Eligibility:

1. Households must qualify as a first time homebuyer.
2. The household must complete the Road to Home’s Homeownership Education Course before entering into a buy/sell agreement.
3. Household must contribute 1% of 1st loan amount.
4. Households must be income-eligible; maximum income is determined by geographical area and family size. The earned income must be no more than the amounts listed below:

Financing Eligibility:

1. Maximum purchase price of the unit is the FHA limit.
2. The unit must be the household’s primary residence.
3. Sum of all financing may not exceed 102%.
4. Interest rate may not exceed the current MBOH rate. The rate must be fixed.
5. Front-end ratio must be between 28 and 32 percent. Back-end ratio may not exceed 42%.

Real Estate Eligibility:

1. Condos, town-homes, single-family detached homes, and manufactured homes (on permanent foundations) may all be considered for purchase.
2. The home must be either vacant or owner-occupied at the time the buy-sell is executed.  Any unit with current tenants, regardless of the terms of their lease, is not eligible.
3. All homes must have a home inspection.

Income Limits for Down Payment Assistance Program

Low Interest First Mortgages

The Road to Home Program provides 30 year, fixed rate mortgages at 5.5% (subject to change) to eligible households.

Income Limits for Low Interest First Mortgages

Low-interest mortgages are also available through the Montana Board of Housing and Rural Development.  Please contact the Road to Home Program Staff for further information.

Homeowner Services

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to prepare for homeownership, unforeseen circumstances can cause us to fall behind on our mortgage. That is where we can help. The HRDC provides HUD-certified foreclosure prevention counseling, free of charge. We can help you sort out your options and make a plan to keep your home, or, if that is not possible, to help you move on in a manner that will result in the least amount of damage to your family.

Please contact the Road to Home Program Staff to schedule an individual counseling session.

Items to bring to your counseling session
Sample letter to lender
Government Foreclosure Prevention site

Additional Programs and Partners:

• Neighborworks Montana
• Rural Development
• Habitat for Humanity
• Gallatin Association of Realtors
• Montana Board of Housing
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Montana
• Home Rehabilitation
• Low Income Energy Assistance
• Property Tax Deduction Application
• Property Tax Deduction Application for Disabled Veterans