Homebuyer Program Specialist

Housing Trust Silicon Valley; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Bonus program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Housing Trust seeks a Homebuyer Program Specialist to guide applicants from inquiry through application, serving as the primary contact for homebuyers, lenders, Realtors®, and partners. You will help administer affordable homeownership programs in a regulated, rewarding environment.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years in program administration or client-facing work; proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems; ability to manage multiple files and maintain

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 3–5 years in program administration or client-facing environments.
• Ability to review documentation and perform basic financial calculations.
• Strong communication, education, and guidance skills for homebuyers.
• Attention to detail, confidentiality, and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency with CRM and document management systems; valid driver license.

Responsibilities

• Manage homebuyer and applicant files from inquiry to application.
• Educate applicants, explain guidelines, and guide through the process.
• Coordinate with lenders, Realtors, and partners to ensure eligibility.
• Maintain records in the CRM and support onboarding with internal staff.
• Deliver workshops and outreach activities to promote homeownership.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Time management

CRM

Data entry

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Salesforce

Box

Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft Office

Job description

Housing Trust (HT) is looking for exceptional people who believe that safe, stable affordable housing opens the door to better living for everyone. We embrace diversity. We nurture it and we thrive on it because it benefits our organization, our partners, and our community. We are seeking a mission and results driven individual for an amazing opportunity in our Homebuyer Programs team.

Mission and History

Housing Trust is leading the effort to create a strong affordable housing market in the greater Bay Area as one of the region’s highest-volume nonprofit housing lenders. Serving people experiencing homelessness to renters to first-time homebuyers, we assist a wide range of residents with programs across the entire spectrum of housing issues. Since 2000, Housing Trust has invested $690 million – creating over 28,700 affordable housing opportunities serving over 53,800 of our neighbors.

Position Overview

Have you ever helped someone unlock the door to their first home, achieving their dream of homeownership? As a Homebuyer Program Specialist, you'll do more than provide great customer service, you'll serve as the primary point of contact for homebuyers, lenders, Realtors®, and community housing partners, guiding interested homebuyers and applicants from initial inquiry through application submission.

Reporting to the Manager, Homebuyer Programs, you will play a key role in administering affordable homeownership programs, guiding prospective homebuyers through a highly regulated, and ultimately highly rewarding, process from initial inquiry to application. This includes reviewing eligibility, educating applicants, and coordinating with lenders, Realtors®, housing counselors, and community partners to ensure program requirements are met accurately and consistently. Success in this role requires exceptional organization, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while providing exceptional support to homebuyers in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.

Unlike many roles you may find in residential real estate, this is not a commission-based mortgage sales position. There are no sales quotas or production targets. Instead, you will support homebuyer down payment assistance programs with integrity, helping applicants navigate one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Key Responsibilities

Homebuyer Interest Management & Client Services (40%)

• Manage interested homebuyer and applicant files from initial inquiry through application submission, ensuring timely follow-up, accurate documentation, and compliance with program requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for interested homebuyers and applicants, providing education, guidance, and support through phone, Zoom, email, and other channels throughout the pre-screening and application process.
• Explain program guidelines, eligibility requirements, mortgage financing concepts, and the homebuying process to interested homebuyers.
• Process homebuyer interest forms and review household and financial information to conduct preliminary eligibility assessments; review applicant documentation for completeness and accuracy, following up to obtain missing or incomplete information.
• Assist applicants in completing required disclosures and submitting documentation through secure online platforms.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of homebuyer communications, file notes, eligibility, application status, and outcomes in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
• Collaborate with loan processors, underwriters, lenders, and internal staff to support efficient application onboarding, and respond to inquiries from Realtors®, lenders, and community partners regarding program eligibility and procedures.

Program Administration & Operations (35%)

• Maintain organized homebuyer and applicant files and program documentation in accordance with program guidelines and reporting requirements, managing multiple files simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Prepare reports and maintain accurate program data related to inquiries, applicant activity, participation, outcomes, and performance metrics.
• Support quarterly reporting, data collection, compliance documentation, and program monitoring activities.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of program forms, FAQs, reference materials, and homebuyer communications.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative workflows and program effectiveness.
• Stay informed about local, state, and federal down payment assistance programs, housing resources, mortgage financing practices, and current issues affecting low- and moderate-income homebuyers.

Community Outreach & Education (25%)

• Coordinate, facilitate, and/or deliver virtual and in-person homebuyer education workshops, community presentations, and outreach events as assigned, representing Housing Trust to promote homeownership opportunities.
• Prepare presentations, training materials, and educational resources related to homeownership programs and down payment assistance.
• Manage event logistics: scheduling, registration, webinar setup, materials preparation, and post-event follow-up and track outreach participation and outcomes for program reporting.
• Collaborate with community organizations, lenders, and Realtors® to expand awareness of homeownership opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, communications, education, human services, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in program administration, customer service, nonprofit programs, financial services, real estate, case management, or another client-facing environment involving documentation review and client support.
• Comfortable working with numbers and basic financial information, reviewing financial documentation, performing routine calculations, and explaining basic concepts.
• Strong customer service and communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to educate, guide, and support homebuyers and applicants, individually and in groups, through processes and requirements involving varying levels of knowledge and experience.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to review documentation, maintain accurate records, manage multiple files, and ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Ability to handle confidential financial and personal information with discretion, maintaining compliance with privacy, data security, and organizational confidentiality requirements.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat, and the ability to learn and effectively use CRM and document management systems.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to travel locally to conduct workshops, attend outreach events, and meet with lending and community partners as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in affordable housing, homebuyer education, housing counseling, down payment assistance programs, mortgage lending, or financial education.
• Familiarity with basic mortgage and lending concepts and experience reviewing income, household, financial, or eligibility documentation.
• Experience using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, such as Salesforce, and electronic document management systems, such as Box.
• Experience facilitating workshops, presentations, or community education and outreach activities.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, government, housing, or financial institution environment.
• Bilingual proficiency in a language reflecting the communities we serve is a plus.

Compensation

Housing Trust offers a competitive compensation package, including a bonus plan and benefits. This is a non-exempt, full-time position. Hourly rate for this position is $33.66-$40.87.

Total Compensation and Benefits

Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive benefits program designed to support employees’ health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage fully paid for employees, with 50% of premiums covered for eligible dependents
• Employer-funded 401(k) contribution of 3%, plus an additional employer match of up to 2%
• Generous paid time off, including three weeks of vacation, twelve paid sick days, eleven paid holidays, and a paid year-end office shutdown
• Eligibility for an annual performance-based bonus
• Tuition reimbursement program and additional benefits

Housing Trust is an equal opportunity employer to all regardless of race,color, national origin,ancestry, sex, marital status,disability, religious or political affiliation, actual or perceived gender identity, age, or sexual orientation. Housing Trust is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive organization. We are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting diversity in our workforce and leadership to reflect the communities we serve. We believe differences in lived-experiences, cultural backgrounds, and diversity of thought are our strongest assets and contribute to our success.