Finance and Housing Programs

• First Time Home Buyer Program

  Are you ready to purchase a home? If so, you may want to join the First Time Home-buyers Program! 

  The Volusia County UF/IFAS Extension office offers Pre-Purchase Home-buyers Workshops. This class meets the education requirement for those individuals participating in a First Time Home-buyers Education program.  The UF/IFAS Extension office in Volusia County is a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency. When you have attended all required workshops, you will be given the certificate needed to apply for federal down payment and closing cost assistance through local and state government programs. 

  Click below to download the First Time Homebuyer class calendar:

  FTHB class calendar

  Click below to register for an upcoming class on Eventbrite:

  Register for an upcoming workshop

  For Questions contact Lisa Hamilton (386) 822-5778.

• Take Control of Your Money

  Money can be hard to understand. 

  What are your money goals? Do you want to save for a house? Pay off debt? Stop living paycheck to paycheck?

  Learning about money can help you feel more confident about your money choices and make choices that get you closer to your goals.  Topics like building credit buying a home, saving investing, and retiring are all important for good financial health. 

  Volusia County UF/IFAS Extension offers articles, videos and other resources to help you manage your money. You can learn to budget, plan for the future, better understand taxes in our Take Control of Your Money Classes.

  Register for an upcoming class

  or for questions call Lisa Hamilton (386) 822-5778

• Building a Spending Plan

  Everybody needs to learn how to manage money. Good money management means paying your monthly bills, saving for the future, and buying the things you need and want without getting into too much debt. A spending plan, also called a budget is a helpful too.  It helps you keep track of your money and helps you make smart choices.  With good planning, you can make your money last longer.  Good spending habits help you feel more secure and use credit wisely.  

  By following this 6-step exercise, you can build a spending plan that fits your income and needs. You can decide if you want to pay-off your debt, save to buy items for your home, or manage your spending so you can pay bills on time. You choose your money goals, and using your spending plan will help you reach them.   

  Start here!

• Coping with a Money Crunch

  It can be easy to say that money problems, like losing your job, should be shared with your family. But knowing how to talk about these problems can be hard.  One helpful way is to bring the family together by holding a family meeting.  This allows everyone to be share information and ideas; and work as a team.  A family meeting provides a place for talking and brings more peace and understanding into the family's routine. 

  Learn more about coping with a money crunch!

• Estate Planning

  Many people avoid estate planning because it means talking about hard topics.  These topics can included death, money, businesses, marriage, and family relationships.  Some families may not feel ready to talk about these things.  Others may disagree about how property or money should be shared, after a death .   Even though planning for the end of life can feel uncomfortable, it can be a gift to your family.   When you organize your affairs ahead of time, you help reduce stress, save time, and lower costs for your loved ones.  While it cannot take away their sadness, it can make a difficult time easier for them.   

  Learn more in our Estate planning series here!

• Home Building, Renovation, Maintenance, and Repair

  Learn more about energy efficiency in the home, maintaining a healthy home, septic systems and more here!

• Improving Savings, Health, and Happiness

   

  This set of EDIS publications explains what it means for a community to do well. It also suggests small changes to neighborhoods, public schools, and public services that could help people improve their communities. These publications are written for a general audience and include a list of possible changes to public schools that may help a community do better.

   

   

  Learn more!