Homeownership Counselor

Neighbor Works Western Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision coverage

Vacation and sick time

401k with discretionary company match

Mileage and expense reimbursement

4-day workweek

Recognize all federal holidays

Job summary

Neighbor Works Western Pennsylvania is seeking a full-time Homeownership Counselor responsible for offering personalized coaching to homebuyers and homeowners. This position includes both pre and post-purchase support, utilizing virtual and in-person meetings. The ideal candidate will have experience in housing counseling or related fields, be comfortable with technology, and possess strong interpersonal skills. The role offers a hybrid work model and a salary range of $44,000 to $48,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and a 401k plan.

Qualifications

• At least two years experience in housing, financial, or foreclosure counseling.
• Experience in case management, mental health counseling, or related customer-facing area.
• Dependable transportation for events and office commute.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer-driven pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling.
• Maintain knowledge of referral opportunities for resources.
• Update and maintain customer records in Salesforce.
• Present education series to customers and partners.

Skills

Housing counseling

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Financial counseling

Trauma-informed approach

Education

HUD Housing Counselor certification

Tools

Salesforce

Zoom

Job description

Homeownership Counselor

Reports To: Counseling and Education Manager

Position Summary

Our Homeownership Counselors provide personalized, one-on-one homebuyer and homeowner coaching to help customers reach their personal goals. Through virtual meetings, assigned actions plans, and learning modules customers will work with a Homeownership Counselor to define their own needs, timelines, and goals. NWWPA works with individuals and families looking to purchase a home as well as those looking to preserve homeownership in the event of foreclosure proceedings. We work with customers to understand what is happening and what comes next when it comes to your home.

Our Homeownership Counselors can talk with customers about the process of buying a home, available resources that may be available to assist with the homebuying process, how to plan for a home purchase, what to do if your mortgage payment isn’t affordable, and much more. Our team is a valuable resource for anyone in the Western Pennsylvania area who has homeownership on their minds.

All NWWPA Homeownership Counselors are credentialed by NeighborWorks America, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

General Responsibilities

• Provide customer-driven pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling services including foreclosure prevention virtually through Zoom video conferencing technology;
• Maintain knowledge of referral opportunities and resources as appropriate (to include down payment assistance grants, bankruptcy and other legal issues, home improvement, local government resources, and housing assistance programs);
• Accurately and consistently update and maintain customer records in Salesforce for effective compliance, billing, and relationship management;
• Present various customer and partner education series in-person or virtually as necessary;
• Complete all relevant training and certifications within 18 months including HUD Housing Counselor certification, including annual travel to attend NeighborWorks National Training Institutes (NTIs) at varying locations across the country; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Qualifications and Experience

• Preference will be given to individuals with at least two years experience in:
  • Housing, financial, or foreclosure counseling
  • Retail or mortgage lending
• Candidates without above backgrounds should have experience in case management, mental health counseling, customer service/relationship building, education or other customer-facing related area
• Independent learning style that can be supplemented with trainings, team meetings, and shadowing opportunities
• Strong interpersonal skills and a customer service orientation including a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to working towards individual’s goals and success measures
• Candidates must possess reliable transportation to travel to events and to the office on a regular basis.
• General flexibility and willingness to adapt to rapid changes including comfort with new technologies and record management systems
• Additional preference will be given to individuals who currently hold a HUD Housing Counselor certification but training and support will be provided

Status: Position is full-time and will require some evening and weekend hours with possible travel to various work sites, trainings, and partner meetings.

Salary Range: $44,000- $48,000

Terms: This position and all NWWPA services currently operate on a hybrid model, including some in-office requirements during the tenure of the position, and any candidate must be flexible as such. All candidates must either reside in or relocate to the Southwestern PA area within 6 months of hire.

Neighborworks offers a comprehensive benefit package including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, vacation and sick time, life insurance, 401k with discretionary company match, mileage and expense reimbursement. We also operate on a 4-day workweek and recognize all federal holidays.

For more than 50 years, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania (NWWPA) has promoted stable, vibrant communities by providing our neighbors with comprehensive homeownership services. Legendary community organizer Dorothy Richardson founded our organization, then known as Neighborhood Housing Services, to address the lack of safe and affordable housing on Pittsburgh’s Northside. The success of Richardson and her neighbors, using a resident-led model, inspired a national network of community-based organizations. Today, NWWPA is a leader in sustainable homeownership, preparing first-time homebuyers and supporting homeowners in Western Pennsylvania through online education and one-on-one counseling. Our team of experienced housing counselors and educators adhere to the highest standards of quality and accountability in the industry.

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania is committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We make employment decisions based on job related criteria, regardless of age, sex, race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other non-work related criteria. EEO/M/F/D/V employer. We value diverse voices and ideas and encourage applicants of all identities to apply.