Homeownership
Increase Your Likelihood of Successful Homeownership
ACCESS offers homeowner education, housing counseling, and down payment assistance for potential homebuyers. We also help existing homeowners who may be struggling to pay their mortgage, are behind on property taxes, or facing default.
Saving to Buy
If you’re starting to think about homeownership, there are programs to help you save.
First-Time Homebuyer
Get help with your down payment and learn about managing your mortgage.
Existing Homeowner
Learn about foreclosure assistance, paying off debt, and understanding your credit.
ACCESS is proud to be the only certified HUD Housing Counseling Agency in Jackson County.
Oregon Housing & Community Services Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP)
The Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) is a down-payment and closing cost assistance program designed to help low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers purchase a home in Jackson or Josephine Counties.
View Brochure PDF
- You are a qualified first-time homebuyer (if you have not owned a home in the past three years).
- Your household income does not exceed the Median Income Limit of $73,100 for Jackson County and $59,000 for Josephine County in 2021 per HUD guidelines.
- You have attended either the live “Realizing the American Dream” home buyer education class presented by ACCESS with local home buying professionals or the online “eHome America” course available at www.ehomeamerica.org.
- You have completed an individual pre purchase housing counseling appointment with a Certified Homeownership Counselor at ACCESS within the last 18 months.
- You are working with a mortgage lender who has pre-approved you for a conforming conventional, government insured, or government guaranteed mortgage.
- Buyer must contribute a minimum of $500 of their own funds in transaction.
- Your lender is willing to help you apply when you have an accepted offer.
- Located within Jackson or Josephine County in Oregon.
- Your primary residence & considered real property.
- Enroll and attend the “Realizing the American Dream” homebuyer education course by calling the Homeownership Center at ACCESS at (541) 774-4305, or the “eHome” homebuyer education course at www.ehomeamerica.org/access.
- Contact the Homeownership Center to schedule and attend an individual pre-purchase counseling session at ACCESS by emailing hocinfo@accesshelps.org or calling (541) 774-4305.
- Work with a lender and have your lender pre-approve you for a qualified mortgage.
- Once you have completed ALL of the above AND have an accepted offer on a home, work with a lender to submit a grant application to ACCESS.
Rogue Valley Association of Realtors/Oregon Association of Realtors HOME Foundation First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program
The RVAR/OAR HOME Foundation Buyers Assistance Grant provides up to $2,500 toward down payment, closing costs, or prepaid items, with the homebuyer contributing a minimum of $500 of their own funds.
View Brochure PDF
- You are a qualified first-time home buyer (if you have not owned a home in the past three years).
- You are pre-approved for a conforming conventional, government insured, or government guaranteed mortgage by a lender.
- You have attended either the live “Realizing the American Dream” home buyer education class presented by ACCESS with local homebuying professionals, or the online “eHome America” course available at www.ehomeamerica.org.
- You have completed an individual pre-purchase housing counseling appointment with a Certified Homeownership Counselor at ACCESS within the last 18 months
- Your household income does not exceed the State of Oregon Median Income Limit per HUD guidelines.
- Located within Jackson or Josephine County in Oregon.
- Your primary residence & considered real property.
- Enroll and attend the “Realizing the American Dream” home buyer education course by calling the Homeownership Center at ACCESS at (541) 774-4305, or the online “eHome” home buyer education course at www.ehomeamerica.org/access.
- Contact the Homeownership Center to schedule and attend an individual pre-purchase counseling session at ACCESS by calling (541) 774-4305.
- Work with a lender and local Realtor® who is an active member of Southern Oregon Multiple Listing Service.
- Have your lender pre-approve you for a mortgage.
- Once you have completed ALL of the above AND have an accepted offer on a home, work with your lender to submit a grant application to ACCESS.
Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s)
Individual Development Accounts are no-fee matched savings accounts available to eligible low-income households. Funds saved in IDA’s can be used towards home purchase or home repair, and allows participants to save up to $900 over the course of 1 year or up to $1,800 over the course of 1-2 years.
View Brochure PDF
- You live in Jackson or Josephine county.
- Your gross household income is at or below the income limits for the program, listed below.
- Your total household net worth equals less than $60,000 (not counting your home if you own one, and one vehicle).
- You are 18 years of age or older and an Oregon resident.
- You can afford to save money and commit to making a deposit monthly for one to two years.
- You would like to save for first time homeownership or repair of your primary residence.
To learn more or request an application, contact the ACCESS Homeownership Center via email at hocinfo@accesshelps.org or phone at (541) 774-4305.
Housing Counseling
One-on-one pre-purchase counseling analyzes each household’s individual situation, with the goal of helping them achieve their dream of homeownership. During counseling sessions, we discuss down payment options and making sound financial decisions. Prior to participating in pre-purchase counseling, households must first complete a homebuyer education course. ACCESS offers additional counseling services for financial literacy, post-purchase, and default/foreclosure counseling.
Homebuyer Education Course
If you’re thinking about buying your first home, navigating the process can feel overwhelming. ACCESS offers comprehensive first-time-homebuyer education that helps answer any questions you may have about the process. These classes are designed to walk you through the entire home buying process so you know exactly what to expect and how to manage the costs. Additionally, some ACCESS programs require homebuyer education to quality.
- Basics of mortgage financing and qualifying for a home loan that suits your needs
- Down payment and closing cost assistance programs for first-time homebuyers
- Local down payment and closing cost assistance programs
- October 26, 2024
- January 11, 2025
- March 14, 2025
- May 24, 2025
- July 18, 2025
- September 13, 2025
- November 7, 2025
- (Spanish language)
- November 9, 2024
February 1, 2025 - April 5, 2025
- August 16, 2025
- October 4, 2025
Classes are from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Location: ACCESS Olsrud Building at 2020 Cardinal Ave, Medford OR 97504
Classes may be held via Zoom if unable to be held in-person
For more information on our Spanish classes click here.
- Cost is $75 (co-student is included in registration fee) If you are low income, you may qualify for a fee waiver.
Register here for an upcoming class.
Financial Literacy Course
ACCESS offers financial literacy education and counseling services. Financial education is offered as a live in-person class and also as an online money management course through eHome America to help you reach your financial goals.
View Flyer PDF
- Managing your money
- Basic banking and savings accounts
- Paying off debt
- Understanding your credit
- 2025 Dates
- February 26, 2025
- June 4, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- December 3, 2025
Classes are from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Virtual (A Zoom link will be provided after successful registration)
Register here for an upcoming class.
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
The State of Oregon has allocated $90 million to assist homeowners through the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). ACCESS will be administering funds to eligible households in Jackson County to help homeowners avoid mortgage foreclosures, delinquencies, defaults, and displacements. To learn more about the program or check your eligibility, please visit oregonhomeownerassistance.org
Homeownership Housing Projects
This is a list of housing projects in Southern Oregon that are currently under development and will have housing units available for homeownership
Learn More
Get Started
For more information about ACCESS homeownership programs or for assistance, please contact the ACCESS Homeownership Center at (541) 774-4305.
“I believe that the training required to receive this grant, along with the one-on-one time spent with a Counselor, was super valuable. With rent skyrocketing, this helped push me over the horizon into homeownership. This fulfilled a huge goal that I have had for years.”
– Joe, Grant Recipient and Homeowner
Upcoming Classes
Homeownership Course, June 3, 2023
A comprehensive first-time-homebuyer education that helps answer any questions you may have about the process.
Financial Literacy Course, May 17, 2023
Are you interested in learning how to manage your money? Financial literacy teaches the important skills of money management to set you up for success in the future.
