BOISE – North Idaho College will become the newest regional training partner in the Finally Home!® home buyer education program on Monday (Sept.23), the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education (IPHBE), Inc., announced.

"North Idaho College is proud to offer the Finally Home!® program," said Dr. Robert Ketchum, assistant vice president for Instruction, and executive director of NIC’s Workforce Training Center. "We believe the program is very important in helping Idaho to remain among the nation's leaders in personal home ownership. NIC's goal is to help first-time home buyers in Idaho achieve their home-ownership goals and navigate the home-buying process."

In 1999, the IPHBE created Finally Home!®, a home buyer education program designed by Idaho Housing and Finance Association and several organizations statewide, to address issues that potential home owners face. The program covers all the steps involved in making that big investment, from qualifying for a mortgage and choosing a real estate professional, to making an offer and closing. The Finally Home!® program offers classes virtually every month statewide.

At each site, a regional training partner teaches the classes, designed specifically for first-time and limited-income home buyers. Education is not the only incentive. Qualified individuals who complete the class can also become eligible to receive down-payment or closing-cost assistance. They can also be approved with higher income-to-debt ratios, and may be able to use "gifted funds" at closing. Monetary assistance is a big incentive, as almost half of the program’s participants make less than 50 percent of the area’s median income.

Nearly 2,200 potential home owners graduated from the Finally Home!® home buyer education program between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002—a record number of graduates during any 12-month period in the program’s history. Since its beginning in 1999, Finally Home!® has produced more than 5,800 graduates.

"The Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc., is very excited to welcome North Idaho College as one of our Regional Training Partners," said IHFA Finally Home!® Program Administrator Sue Pisani. "Their excellent reputation in North Idaho and their ability to deliver a quality program is a plus for prospective home buyers desiring to learn all they can about buying a home."

The Finally Home! ® program is funded through a varied group of Idaho’s housing industry, who contribute financial support through membership dues and donations. The organization is directed by the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc., whose board of directors reflect a diverse geographic representation (Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Coeur d’Alene).

Gerald L. Beck, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer
College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls

Maris Cukurs, REALTOR®
Century 21 Greater LandCo Realty, Idaho Falls

Dana Divin, President and Idaho State Manager
Stewart Title of Boise, Inc.

Mark P. Dunham, Executive Vice President
Idaho Association of REALTORS®, Boise

Gerald M. Hunter, President and Executive Director
Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Boise

Robert G. Ketchum, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Instruction, and Executive Director of Workforce Training Center
North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene

Cynthia A. Williams, Vice President Community Development
U. S. Bank, Boise

Corporate Officer and President
James C. Lau, Sr. Residential Lending Manager
Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Boise

Administrator
Sue Pisani, HBE Administrator
IPHBE, Inc., Boise
PHN: (208) 331-4847
FAX: (208) 331-4801