(BOISE) Washington Mutual has contributed $10,000 to the Finally Home!® Home Buyer Education Program in 2004, 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 $35,000 to the home buyer education program since 2001. Idaho Housing and Finance Association contributes administrative support to Finally Home!®

IPHBE Inc. 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 9,900 future Idaho home owners since its inception, and anticipates graduating a total of 2,400 in 2004.

"As one of America's leading mortgage lenders, Washington Mutual is committed to finding substantive ways to make homeownership a reality for all people," said Tim Otani, corporate giving manager at Washington Mutual. "Homeownership is complex, so providing support for home buyer education is an ongoing priority for our company. We depend on our local community partners such as the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education to help us understand where our help is needed most."

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where they are most needed and when it is economically feasible. IHFA uses no state funds or state employees to support its operations. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.