Preparing and Educating Buyers to Navigate Homeownership

AEOA offers a range of homeownership tools to help community members take their first steps toward owning a home.

Everyone is welcome to take our homebuyer education class for a fee, and all participants can receive free one‑on‑one housing counseling to help them understand the process and plan for success. The class and one‑on‑one counseling sessions can be taken in any order.

Community members who meet income and qualification guidelines may also be eligible for down payment and closing cost assistance after completing the required class and one‑on‑one counseling. One-on-one counseling must be completed before a purchase agreement can be signed.

 

Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance

Assistance towards down payment and closing costs for qualified buyers in Lake, Cook, and St. Louis Counties (excluding the City of Duluth). There is not an application for assistance, as qualification is determined in the one-on-one counseling session. To qualify, buyer(s) must:

  • be a first-time homebuyer (or not have owned a home in the last 3 years)
  • complete a Home Stretch Workshop
  • complete a One-on-One Counseling Session (BEFORE the purchase agreement is signed)
  • qualify for a mortgage. The counselor will assist in shopping for a mortgage
  • contribute a minimum of $1,000.00 towards the purchase of property from their own resources. Examples include: education class cost (Home Stretch or Framework), earnest money, inspection fee, and appraisal fee
  • not exceed the income and purchase price limits (see charts below)
  • meet the program’s inspection requirements (safe, sanitary, and in good repair) and utilize a program-approved inspector

Our Homeownership program is best suited for buyers in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties. To locate an advisor or class in your purchase area, please use the search tool on the MN Homeownership Center’s website.

Home Stretch Workshops

These workshops are designed to teach a buyer the steps involved in purchasing a home. Local professionals such as real estate agents, lenders, and home inspectors speak about their part in the process. These virtual classes on Zoom are available to anyone and have no qualifications. The cost is $40 and registration is required 24 hours in advance.

 

April 22 & 23 2026 (5PM – 9:30PM)

May 20 (9AM – 5:30PM)

National Online Framework Course

One-On-One Counseling Session

Our accredited housing counselors offer FREE one-on-one service to assist you with your road map to home-ownership. Counseling sessions focus on affordability, types of mortgages, budgeting, savings, and identifying and accomplishing your goals. Counseling is available to anyone and has no qualification requirements. Registration is required.

Topics covered:

  • Objectives and needs
  • Build a household budget
  • Barriers
  • Available resources (lending, real estate, home inspectors, and financial counseling)
  • Develop an action plan

Sign Up for Counseling

Questions?

This form is for questions only. Sign up for Home Stretch Workshop or One‑on‑One Counseling above. If you have a specific question, please complete the form below and a member of our team will contact you.

Submit a Question

Prefer to Learn Online at Your Own Pace? Framework May be for You.

AEOA offers access to Framework, an online learning option. Framework is an alternative course that is designed to help you navigate the home-buying process and learn when, where, and how you like. This course is 8 hours and can be completed at your own pace. Please verify with your lender to verify that a Framework certificate is acceptable. The fee to participate in Framework is $75.

Sign Up for Framework

Additional Resources

Our Homeownership program is best suited for buyers in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties. To locate an advisor or class in your purchase area, please use the search tool on the MN Homeownership Center’s website.

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