If you are considering buying a house, or just cleaning up your finances, take the time to talk to a financial or housing counselor BEFORE you make any major decisions. Nonprofit housing counselors are confidential, unbiased advisors who can help you plan your financial future. The links below will help you find sound financial planning advice, contact a nonprofit financial or housing counselor, and learn about local and state programs to help homebuyers.

• If you are thinking about buying a house, there are a number of nonprofit housing counseling agencies that can help you. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has a full list of agencies statewide. For a list of agencies just in Baltimore City, see the list compiled by Baltimore Housing.
• If you decide to buy a home in Baltimore City, Baltimore Housing (the City Department of Housing and Community Development) offers a wide range of programs and incentives to help you. The State of Maryland offers a number of mortgage products an other homebuying incentives through its More House 4 Less program.
• The Maryland Association of Realtors offers a useful summary of housing related programs for homebuyers in all counties in Maryland.
• If you are a first-time homebuyer buying a home for less than $125,000, the nonprofit legal organization Civil Justice can offer you free legal services to review all the documents required for buying a home.