Home Buyer Education Receives Contribution from Washington Mutual

(BOISE) Washington Mutual recently contributed $10,000 to the Finally Home!® Home Buyer Education program administered by the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education (IPHBE). The contribution will assist with educational contract expenses, program administration, textbooks, other class materials. Washington Mutual, a contributor to the Home Buyer Education program since 2001, has contributed a total of $45,000 to the program.

"As one of America's leading mortgage lenders, Washington Mutual is committed to finding substantive ways to make home ownership a reality for all people," said Brian Stewart, northwest community development manager for Washington Mutual. "Home ownership 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."

Washington Mutual employees also serve as volunteer instructors for the classes. Idaho Housing and Finance Association contributes administrative support to Finally Home!®.

The home buyer education program is provided by IPHBE, a nonprofit organization that has joined with local partners in Idaho to offer Finally Home!® classes to future home buyers every month statewide. 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 12,000 future Idaho home owners since its inception and anticipates graduating a total of 2,000 in 2005.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, provides funding for affordable housing in communities where it is most needed and when economically feasible.