Where Can I Find a Free First-Time Home Buyer Webinar Online?
Justin Borges, REALTOR® DRE #01940318 · 7 min read
A free live webinar for Greater LA first-time buyers runs every Thursday at 6 PM at theborgesrealestateteam.com/register/fthb (hosted by our team; FTC disclosure applies). For a HUD-approved certificate, NHS LA County offers free online workshops at nhslacounty.org (as of NHS LA County July 2026), and Fannie Mae HomeView is a free self-paced course at fanniemae.com/education (as of Fannie Mae 2026). All three are free and available to anyone buying in Los Angeles or Southern California.
On This Page
- The Free Thursday 6 PM Webinar for Greater LA Buyers
- Which HUD-Approved Agencies Offer Free Webinars in Los Angeles?
- Does NHS LA County Offer a Free Online Homebuyer Webinar?
- Are There Free Self-Paced Online Homebuyer Courses in California?
- Free Webinar and Class Options Compared
- Which Free Homebuyer Webinar Is Right for a Greater LA Buyer?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Los Angeles Can I Find a Free Live First-Time Buyer Webinar Every Week?
The Borges Real Estate Team hosts a free, live weekly webinar called the First-Time Buyer Blueprint, specifically built for buyers purchasing in Greater Los Angeles, including LA County, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Bernardino County. The session runs every Thursday at 6 PM Pacific and covers the full buying process: how California pricing works, which down payment assistance programs apply in your zip code, how to choose a lender, and what offer strategy looks like in competitive LA neighborhoods.
Registration is free and takes under two minutes at theborgesrealestateteam.com/register/fthb. Each session includes a live Q&A block, so attendees can ask questions about their specific city or situation. Disclosures: this webinar is hosted by our team, and Justin Borges, REALTOR® DRE #01940318, licensed since October 2013, leads or co-hosts the majority of sessions. Attendance is entirely free with no purchase obligation.
First-Time Buyer Blueprint Webinar
Every Thursday at 6 PM Pacific. Greater LA buyers only. Free registration, no obligation. Live Q&A included.
Reserve Your Free Seat, Thursdays at 6 PMMost national "homebuyer webinars" cover a generic US mortgage process. The Thursday session is built around Greater LA specifically: CalHFA income limits by county, LACDA's HOP80 and HOP120 programs, HCIDLA's LIPA and MCC programs, and how offer strategy differs between Highland Park, Pasadena, and the Inland Empire. That local specificity is what separates a live local webinar from a self-paced course designed for buyers anywhere in the country.
Which HUD-Approved Agencies in Los Angeles Offer Free Homebuyer Webinars?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are required by HUD to offer services at little or no cost to consumers (HUD, hud.gov counselor search 2026). Several operate across Los Angeles County and offer free or very-low-cost homebuyer education in webinar or online formats. The fastest way to find a vetted local agency is to call HUD's national hotline at 800-569-4287 or search the directory at hud.gov, filtering by Los Angeles County.
FACE (Financial Ascent for Community Enrichment) is one of the most active HUD-approved agencies in LA. FACE's 8-hour virtual homebuyer education class has served over 15,000 clients and the certificate meets requirements for LACDA's down payment programs, CalHFA loans, and most Southern California lender requirements (LACDA, lacda.org 2026). Classes run in virtual format, which makes them accessible regardless of where in Greater LA a buyer lives. Visit facela.org for the current schedule.
"When buyers ask me where to start, I always say: attend the free Thursday webinar first to understand the Greater LA market, then take a HUD-approved class if your loan program requires a certificate."
Justin Borges, REALTOR® DRE #01940318Have questions after the webinar? Call or text Justin's team directly.
Call (213) 262-5092To complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course that produces a valid certificate for CalHFA or LACDA programs, you need an agency from HUD's official list, not just any real estate seminar. The free Thursday webinar our team hosts is educational but does not produce a HUD-approved certificate. For the certificate, the agencies above are the correct path.
Does NHS LA County Offer a Free Online Homebuyer Webinar in Los Angeles?
Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS LA County) offers free HOPE Homebuyer Workshops online and in-person at their Wilshire Boulevard location (as of NHS LA County July 2026). NHS LA County is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency covering the full LA County area. Workshops are taught by HUD-certified counselors and available in English and Spanish, with accommodations for hearing impairment.
NHS LA County's FasTrak Homebuyer Class is an 8-hour comprehensive education session that covers every stage of the purchase process: credit preparation, selecting a lender, how escrow works in California, and which down payment assistance programs apply in your area. The 8-hour certificate NHS provides meets the education requirement for most CalHFA loan products and many lender-specific first-time buyer programs (CalHFA, calhfa.ca.gov 2026). Current workshop dates and registration are at nhslacounty.org/calendar. NHS LA County can also be reached at (213) 381-2862.
Buyers in Los Angeles who need both market education and a HUD-approved certificate are best served by a two-step approach: attend the free Thursday 6 PM webinar to understand Greater LA's specific conditions, then complete the NHS LA County workshop to obtain the certificate. The two resources serve different purposes and work well together, rather than as substitutes.
Free Weekly Workshop, First-Time Buyer Blueprint
Learn exactly how to buy a home in LA, prices, process, and pitfalls. Live every Thursday at 6 PM, totally free.
Reserve Your Free Seat →Are There Free Self-Paced Online Homebuyer Courses Available in California?
Fannie Mae HomeView is a fully free, self-paced online homebuyer education course available 24/7 at fanniemae.com/education (Fannie Mae, fanniemae.com/education 2026). HomeView covers the full home-purchase process, from deciding whether to rent or buy to managing your mortgage after closing. More than 100,000 buyers have completed the course since 2025, per Fannie Mae's newsroom. Completing the course and scoring 80% or higher earns a certificate of completion that meets the education requirement for Fannie Mae's HomeReady and most other low-down-payment loan products.
The key distinction between HomeView and a live webinar is format. HomeView is self-paced and generic, built for buyers anywhere in the US. The Thursday 6 PM webinar is live, local, and built for Greater LA specifically. For buyers who need a certificate for a California-specific program such as CalHFA Dream For All or LACDA's HOP programs, HomeView alone may not satisfy the requirement. NeighborWorks America operates a network of affiliates offering online and in-person courses at free to low-cost, with HUD-approved certificates (NeighborWorks, neighborworks.org 2026).
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Get My Free Home Valuation →For buyers using LACDA's homeownership programs (HOP80 or HOP120), LACDA requires an 8-hour first-time homebuyer education seminar from a HUD-approved facilitator and receives a copy of the certificate before close of escrow (as of LACDA 2026). LACDA does not appear to directly host its own free webinar; applicants are referred to HUD-approved agencies including FACE and NHS LA County. HCIDLA's LIPA and MCC programs also carry homebuyer education requirements; current format and webinar availability should be confirmed directly at housing.lacity.gov (as of HCIDLA 2026).
Free First-Time Buyer Webinar and Class Options in Los Angeles Compared
The table below covers every major free or low-cost option available to Greater LA first-time buyers, ranked by format and whether the resource produces a HUD-approved certificate.
| Provider | Format | Cost | HUD-Approved Cert | LA-Specific | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borges Real Estate Team (our team) | Live webinar, Thursdays 6 PM | Free | No | Yes, Greater LA only | Market education, Q&A, LA-specific programs |
| NHS LA County | Online + in-person | Free | Yes (8-hr) | Yes, LA County | HUD certificate for CalHFA / LACDA programs |
| FACE (facela.org) | Virtual 8-hour class | Free | Yes (8-hr) | Yes, LA area | LACDA HOP programs; 15,000+ clients served |
| Fannie Mae HomeView | Self-paced online | Free | Yes (Fannie Mae) | No, national course | HomeReady / HomePossible; available 24/7 |
| NeighborWorks affiliates | Online + in-person | Free, $75 | Yes (8-hr) | OC / SoCo affiliates | HUD cert; varies by affiliate |
| eHome America | Self-paced online | $99 | Yes (8-hr) | No, national | Widely accepted; NHS LA County partner platform |
| Framework | Self-paced online | $75 | Yes (8-hr) | No, national | Freddie Mac HomePossible requirement |
FTC disclosure: The Borges Real Estate Team Thursday webinar is listed in this table because it is the only recurring free live local option for Greater LA first-time buyers, not because it replaces HUD-approved education. All other options listed above are independent providers.
Browse homes for sale in Greater LA while you prepare to buy.
Search LA ListingsWhich Free Homebuyer Webinar Is the Right Starting Point for a Los Angeles First-Time Buyer?
The answer depends on what you need right now. Buyers who are in the early research phase and want to understand how Greater LA's market works, what CalHFA and LACDA programs cover, and what a realistic purchase timeline looks like should start with the Thursday 6 PM webinar. The live format means questions get answered in real time, and the content is built around the specific neighborhoods, income limits, and program rules that apply in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Buyers who have already chosen a lender and learned that their loan program (CalHFA MyHome, LACDA HOP, or a lender-specific first-time buyer product) requires a HUD-approved education certificate should go directly to NHS LA County or FACE. Both provide free 8-hour courses with valid certificates (as of their respective July 2026 websites). Fannie Mae HomeView is the right pick for buyers who are using a HomeReady loan, need flexibility around schedule, or simply prefer self-paced learning without coordinating a webinar slot.
Join the Free First-Time Buyer Blueprint Webinar
Greater LA's only free recurring live webinar for first-time buyers. Thursdays at 6 PM Pacific. Covers CalHFA, LACDA, HCIDLA programs, and LA offer strategy. Hosted by our team.
Register Free, Thursdays at 6 PMA note on internal links for cross-cluster navigation: buyers asking this question are often also asking about whether the first-time home buyer class is worth taking, what to expect at a homebuyer class, and how to get a homebuyer education certificate in California. Reading those articles alongside this one gives a complete picture of the education landscape before making any program decisions.
Quick Reference: Which Free Resource Fits Your Situation?
| If you want... | Use this | Where |
|---|---|---|
| A free live webinar covering Greater LA market | Borges Real Estate Team Thursday 6 PM | theborgesrealestateteam.com/register/fthb |
| A free HUD-approved certificate for CalHFA or LACDA | NHS LA County or FACE | nhslacounty.org / facela.org |
| A free self-paced course with a Fannie Mae-accepted cert | Fannie Mae HomeView | fanniemae.com/education |
| A free to low-cost NeighborWorks course in SoCo | NeighborWorks SoCo affiliate | neighborworks.org (find local affiliate) |
| Ask live questions about buying in LA specifically | Thursday 6 PM webinar Q&A block | theborgesrealestateteam.com/register/fthb |
| Find a HUD counselor near you in Los Angeles | HUD counselor search | hud.gov / 800-569-4287 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Free First-Time Home Buyer Webinars in Los Angeles
Is there a free first-time home buyer webinar specifically for Los Angeles buyers?
Yes. The Borges Real Estate Team hosts a free live webinar every Thursday at 6 PM Pacific for first-time buyers purchasing anywhere in Greater Los Angeles, including LA County, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Bernardino County. Register at theborgesrealestateteam.com/register/fthb. Disclosure: this webinar is hosted by our team.
Does the free Thursday webinar count as a HUD-approved homebuyer education course?
No. The Thursday 6 PM webinar covers the Greater LA buying process in detail but does not produce a HUD-approved 8-hour certificate. If your loan program requires a certificate (CalHFA, LACDA HOP, HomeReady), complete the course through NHS LA County (nhslacounty.org), FACE (facela.org), or Fannie Mae HomeView (fanniemae.com/education). Both resources can be used together.
How do I find a HUD-approved free homebuyer class in Los Angeles County?
Call HUD's housing counselor line at 800-569-4287 or search the directory at hud.gov to find HUD-approved agencies in Los Angeles County (as of HUD.gov 2026). NHS LA County at (213) 381-2862 and FACE at facela.org are two active LA-area HUD-approved agencies offering free or very-low-cost online courses with valid certificates.
Is Fannie Mae HomeView accepted for CalHFA loans in California?
Fannie Mae HomeView meets the education requirement for most Fannie Mae loan products including HomeReady. For CalHFA-specific programs, the accepted course list is governed by CalHFA's guidelines, which include HUD-approved agency courses and Framework. Confirm HomeView acceptance with your CalHFA-approved lender before relying on it for a CalHFA application.
Does NHS LA County offer online homebuyer education I can complete from home?
Yes. NHS LA County offers both online webinar workshops and in-person sessions. Online workshops are available in English and Spanish through their calendar at nhslacounty.org/calendar (as of NHS LA County July 2026). Their FasTrak 8-hour class can be completed virtually and produces a certificate accepted by most California DPA programs.
What does the free Thursday 6 PM webinar cover for Greater LA buyers?
The webinar covers the full Greater LA first-time buyer process: how California home prices work by area, down payment assistance programs available in your county (CalHFA, LACDA, HCIDLA MCC), how to choose a lender, what to offer in different LA markets, and the escrow process in California. Each session includes a live Q&A. Disclosure: hosted by the Borges Real Estate Team.
Do I need to live in Los Angeles to attend the free Thursday webinar?
The webinar is designed for buyers purchasing anywhere in Greater Los Angeles, which includes LA County, Orange County, the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside counties), and surrounding areas. If you are buying outside Greater LA, a local HUD-approved agency or Fannie Mae HomeView would be more relevant to your specific market conditions.
Are there free homebuyer education resources for Los Angeles buyers using LACDA programs?
Yes. LACDA's HOP80 and HOP120 down payment programs require an 8-hour certificate from a HUD-approved facilitator before close of escrow (as of LACDA 2026). FACE (facela.org) offers a free virtual 8-hour class that meets LACDA's requirement. NHS LA County's FasTrak course is another free option. LACDA itself does not appear to directly host free webinars; they refer applicants to HUD-approved agencies.
Ready to Start Your Greater LA Home Search?
Join the free Thursday 6 PM webinar, or call Justin's team to ask about your specific situation in Los Angeles, Orange County, or the Inland Empire.
Text (213) 262-5092DRE #01940318 · 680 E Colorado Blvd Suite 180, Pasadena CA 91101 · Licensed since October 2013
