Opening doors to homeownership across Michigan
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EmailMSU Extension has helped Michiganders navigate the homebuying process through education, counseling, and personalized support for more than 20 years.
“Could I buy a house? Should I buy a house? What even is a mortgage…and how do I get one?”
For many first-time homebuyers, those questions can feel overwhelming. Michigan State University Extension’s Certified Housing Counselors help residents navigate those decisions through homeownership education classes and one-on-one counseling designed to build knowledge, confidence, and financial readiness during the complex process.
As a housing counseling agency certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), MSU Extension offers multiple ways to participate, including live virtual seminars, in-person workshops and self-paced online learning.
Regardless of format, participants learn how to assess affordability, build and maintain good credit, understand their mortgage options, explore homebuyer assistance programs, and plan for the long-term responsibilities of being a homeowner. Completing the program can also help prospective homebuyers meet educational requirements when applying for Michigan State Housing Development Authority loans and down payment assistance programs, Rural Development loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other financing options.
Breaking down barriers
With over 20 years of experience as a housing counseling agency, MSU Extension continues to prioritize new ways to remove barriers for Michiganders interested in learning more about the homebuying process. In Washtenaw County, a partnership with Jewish Family Services helped bring education to Arabic-speaking residents in the Spring of 2026 through a dual-language program that combined translated materials with live interpretation services.
Carrie Grishaber, MSU Extension HUD Certified Housing Counselor, led the dual-language delivery format with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter. She discovered this approach led to more engagement with participants and even found herself learning new ways to connect across different languages, life experiences, and cultures in the process.
“I took the time to learn several terms in Arabic to better connect with the group,” shared Grishaber. “When I used these phrases throughout our sessions, it was so great to see how a small effort like that really made a difference for our participants and allowed us to build an instant rapport despite our different backgrounds.”
“By intentionally breaking down barriers to homeownership education and approaching these new opportunities with cultural humility, we’re able to better engage with any Michigander eager to learn,” she continued.
The group of participants Grishaber worked with contributed to the total of more than 670 prospective Michigan households who also completed related educational programs offered by the MSU Extension team from October 2025 through August 2026.
This work also builds on previous adaptions of content delivered in years past through partnerships with organizations in the Lansing area serving refugee populations from all over the world.
Meeting households where they are
For many Michiganders, education classes provide a strong foundation for understanding the homebuying process. Others benefit from more individualized guidance as they navigate financial challenges, prepare to purchase a home, or work toward long-term housing stability.
As HUD Certified Housing Counselors, MSU Extension educators and program instructors also provide one-on-one counseling tailored to each household’s goals and circumstances beyond group learning opportunities. While many participants seek help when preparing to purchase a home, others reach out once they have secured homeownership and have encountered a financial hardship that has led to a potential foreclosure. Since October 2025, MSU Extension has assisted nearly 40 Michigan households with one-on-one counseling in the areas of pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention.
Whether comparing mortgage options for the first time, working to improve their household budget or credit, facing financial hardship or searching for housing resources, MSU Extension’s housing counselors help Michiganders make informed decisions about one of the most significant financial investments of their lives.
Through education, counseling and personalized support, the team continues to help residents across Michigan take meaningful steps toward housing stability and homeownership.
Learn more about MSU Extension’s finance and homeownership educational opportunities by visiting MiMoneyHealth.org.
