Overcoming Barriers to Homeownership in 2025: Education, Assistance, and Innovative Solutions
In 2025, the path to homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American Dream but is fraught with challenges due to rising costs and economic pressures. However, through strategic partnerships, innovative mortgage products, and robust educational initiatives, organizations like CBC Mortgage Agency (CBCMA) and Guild Mortgage are working to make homeownership more accessible.
CBC Mortgage Agency and Guild Mortgage, along with their community partners, are playing a critical role by sponsoring Homebuyer Readiness Fairs around the country.
Challenges Facing Homebuyers in Today’s Market
The U.S. housing market in 2025 continues to present significant hurdles for aspiring homeowners. Soaring home prices, outpacing income growth, have drastically reduced affordability, particularly for first-time buyers. High mortgage interest rates, increased monthly payments, and a persistent housing shortage limits inventory. These challenges make it difficult for many, especially low- to moderate-income and minority households, to enter the housing market.
Homebuyer Readiness Fairs: Impacting One City At a Time
To address these barriers, CBC Mortgage Agency has partnered with Guild Mortgage, community leaders, and local groups to launch the Future Homebuyer Initiative, a nationwide series of Homebuyer Readiness Fairs. The initiatives kicked off with a free event on July 19, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina, at the Brookland Baptist Church’s Community Resource Center in partnership of Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann of Columbia. These fairs aim to demystify the homebuying process, and offer educational workshops, one-on-one consultations with housing professionals, and on-site mortgage pre-qualifications for qualified attendees who bring income documentation, bank statements, and a photo ID. Note, consumers are not obligated to bring any verification documents to attend the workshop or apply for a loan.
The agenda includes sessions on financial literacy, credit readiness, private mortgage insurance, and downpayment assistance programs like CBC Mortgage Agency’s Chenoa Fund, led by industry professionals, such as Guild Mortgage Senior Vice President Nora Guerra and CBCMA Corporate Account Director Christopher Johnson. These events provide critical knowledge about mortgage options, homebuying basics, and local real estate markets, empowering attendees to navigate the complex journey to homeownership with confidence.
Over 300 South Carolinians registered for the first Homebuyer Readiness Fair, and the results were impressive: over 60 clients began exploring the homebuying process, with approximately 40 attendees enrolled in HUD prepurchase counseling, 11 appointments were set with loan officers and 5 homebuyers pre-qualified for loans on the spot!
The sponsors will continue to educate potential homebuyers by sponsoring ongoing financial literacy events every other month at the Brookland Baptist Church’s Community Resource Center.
The Role of Down Payment Assistance and Other Solutions
Down payment assistance (DPA) programs are a cornerstone of efforts to make homeownership attainable, particularly for those struggling with upfront costs. CBC Mortgage Agency’s Chenoa Fund DPA program, for example, has helped 50,000 families—many of whom are first-time, minority, or low-income buyers—by offering repayable and forgivable second mortgages to qualified applicants to cover down payments and closing costs. These programs help reduce the initial financial barrier, enabling qualified buyers to secure homes sooner and potentially build equity. According to Urban Institute research nearly 90% of DPA programs function as direct cash transfers with minimal cost to borrowers, making them highly accessible.
The mortgage industry is also exploring other solutions, such as low- or no-interest loans and employer-assisted housing programs, and shared equity products to responsibly support buyers. These tools collectively address affordability challenges, particularly in high-cost areas, and help creditworthy individuals achieve sustainable homeownership.
The Importance of Homebuyer Education
Education is vital for ensuring long-term homeownership success. Homebuyer Readiness Fairs and programs like those offered by CBC Mortgage Agency and its partner, Money Management International (a HUD-approved housing counseling agency), provide comprehensive training on the homebuying process, mortgage options (e.g., FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loans), and the responsibilities of ownership, such as maintenance and property tax management. For borrowers with lower credit scores, these courses are often mandatory to qualify for DPA, offering over a year of post-purchase support to prevent foreclosure. Research shows that educated buyers are more mortgage-ready, make informed decisions, and are less likely to face financial distress, fostering economic equality and stronger communities.
Just listen to South Carolina attendee Judy explain what the Homebuying Fair meant to her: by learning about the homebuying process and about various housing programs and products, she realized that homeownership is something she can attain.
Future events
| Date | Location | Name |
| 9/13/25 | Houston, TX | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair |
| 10/25/25 | Kona, HI | Attainable Housing Expo |
| 11/1/25 | Honolulu, HI | Attainable Housing Expo |
| 3/21/26 | Atlanta, GA | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair |
| 3/24/26 | Jacksonville, FL | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair |
| 3/25/26 | Orlando, FL | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair |
| 3/27/26 | Columbia, SC | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair
(Spanish) |
| 3/28/26 | Columbia, SC | Promise of Home Readiness Homebuyer Fair |
The next Homebuyer Readiness Fair will be held Saturday, September 13 in Houston, TX at 1183 Brittmoore Road, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77043. For additional information, click here. Additional events will be held around the country in 2025-26.
Working Together to Help Future Homebuyers
In 2025, homebuyers face formidable challenges, from high prices and interest rates to limited inventory and economic uncertainty. However, through initiatives like the Future Homebuyer Initiative, CBC Mortgage Agency and Guild Mortgage are addressing these barriers head-on. Homebuyer Readiness Fairs provide essential education, while downpayment assistance, and other mortgage solutions offer practical financial support. By combining these efforts with comprehensive homebuyer education, the industry is paving a viable path to homeownership, empowering individuals and families to build wealth and stability in an increasingly challenging market.
We welcome stakeholder participation in future Homebuyer Readiness Fairs. Please reach out to representatives from CBC Mortgage Agency with questions or suggestions about future events!
CBC Mortgage Agency and Guild Mortgage are separate entities and are not affiliated.
CBC Mortgage Agency, NMLS ID # 1186381 (for licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeracccess.org); Arizona Mortgage Banker License # BK-2001540; Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; Illinois Residential Mortgage License #MB.6761292. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking, 555 W. Monroe St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60661 – 1-888-473-4858. The Chenoa Fund program is not currently offered in New York.
