BOISE - Washington Mutual Foundation has contributed $10,000 to the Finally Home!® Home Buyer Education Program in 2003, Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc. statewide administrator Sue Pisani announced. The contributions will assist with educational contract expenses, textbooks and other class materials and program administration. Washington Mutual has now contributed a total of $25,000 to the home buyer education program since its inception four years ago.

IPHBE is a nonprofit organization that has joined with local partners in Idaho to offer free Finally Home!® classes every month statewide. The class content covers everything from qualifying for a mortgage and choosing a real estate professional, to making an offer and closing. Finally Home!® has graduated more than 7,000 future Idaho home owners since its inception, and anticipates graduating another 2,800 in 2003.

“The Finally Home!® Home Buyer Education program is a very important part of the home-buying process, especially for first-time buyers," said Jerry Centers, IPHBE Board Chairman. "I believe we offer a very worthwhile service to prospective home owners, and as a nonprofit, we rely on partnerships with builders, developers, REALTORS®, lenders and financial organizations like Washington Mutual Foundation to sustain the program."