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NACA Counselor

A NACA Counselor (“Counselor”) can be either a Housing Counselor (“HC”) or Mortgage Counselor (“MC”).  The expectation is that one would begin as a HC and become an MC within six months of employment. A NACA Counselor provides comprehensive, individual, face-to-face housing and budgeting counseling services in a local NACA office or by phone and video conferencing from the Charlotte Counseling Center to Members in NACA’s Purchase Program. The focus is on low- and moderate-income individuals and minorities who have been locked out of affordable homeownership. The Counselor helps homebuyers overcome the roadblocks that prevent them from purchasing a home. This consists of individual counseling to qualify for NACA’s Best in America mortgage. The Counselor must be an advocate who provides comprehensive counseling and affordable outcomes. Additional counseling is provided to homeowners with an unaffordable mortgage through NACA’s HomeSave program.

The Counselor is the Member’s primary point of contact through NACA Qualification and is responsible for adhering Members to NACA’s established requirements. The MC is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator and continues to be the primary point of contact through bank application and closing. Whether an HC or an MC, the Counselor manages his/her own pipeline of Members while working within the underwriting guidelines for NACA’s Best in America Mortgage program. S/he ensures effective and timely communication, explains and requests necessary documents, and determines readiness for homeownership and an affordable mortgage payment for each Member. The Counselor also works with the Member to address and improve their financial management. 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Day-to-day Activities:

  • Provide clear direction for a path towards homeownership. Work with Members to improve their financial management.
  • Work with NACA’s software to accurately complete documentation and data entry for efficient and paperless qualification.
  • Write narrative analyses and action plans to document next steps after each counseling session.
  • Qualify Members by reviewing payment history, liabilities and other credit information.
  • Work with Members to develop an affordable budget and address budget issues through comprehensive financial counseling
  • Work with Members to save minimum required funds to make the home purchase.
  • Work with the Member to calculate a monthly surplus to demonstrate that the Member can afford a higher mortgage payment over the long term.
  • Examine and process documents, addressing issues as needed.
  • Determine readiness for homeownership based on NACA’s Qualification Criteria: eligibility, readiness, affordability, funds and compliance.
  • Determine a maximum affordable mortgage payment and purchase price.
  • Address NACA Qualification conditions (if any) within 24 hours.
  • Educate the Member about alternative mortgage products or solutions for Member to feel comfortable with their mortgage decision.

Mortgage Origination (limited to MC):

  • Stay in contact with the NACA Qualified Member to ensure the Member maintains the parameters under which they were NACA Qualified while searching for a property and maintain an up-to-date file in the NACA-Lynx system.
  • Assist Members during the housing search to purchase a home in his/her desired community.
  • Provide property specific letters.
  • Review and process Member’s application for NACA Credit Access (i.e. verification that the Member meets the underwriting criteria).
  • Submit Member’s mortgage application.
  • Fulfill tasks that require origination licensing (discuss change of circumstances, loan updates, etc.).
  • Assists the Member through closing as appropriate to facilitate the mortgage process.

Advocacy in support of NACA’s Mission:

Employment with NACA requires ongoing participation in NACA’s advocacy, outreach, community organizing, and other activities as determined by NACA. S/he needs to support and defend the organization’s philosophy, tactics and advocacy. Such participation in and support of NACA’s confrontational advocacy campaigns and other activities is important in achieving NACA’s mission of advocating for economic justice and expanding NACA’s Best in America Mortgage and homeownership program. While these activities may impact Performance Pay compensation, they are crucial for NACA’s continued success and for meeting NACA’s mission.

Other Activities:

  • Present Home Buyer Workshops.
  • Assist in outreach activities focused on low and moderate income communities, churches and job sites.
  • Engage in regular trainings
  • Obtain and maintain HUD certification
  • Other duties as assigned.