To register for an upcoming First-time Homebuyer Orientation Session on Zoom, please visit our event registration page here.

This virtual class is only 1-hour on Wednesday evenings, and it’s free!

NOTE – This orientation session is an introductory look into the homebuying process and does not qualify for a certificate.

To receive the certificate, you will need to register and complete HIP’s 8-hour Homebuyer Education Workshop on Saturdays (shorter now virtually, 9am – 3pm) or the eHome online course.

2025 Virtual Orientation Schedule

Wed, May 7th | 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Wed, June 4th | 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Wed, July 2nd | 7:00 – 8:00 pm

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Our instructor for the First-Time Homebuyer Orientation Sessions has more than 40 years of experience in the real estate, affordable housing, and community development industries across the DMV region.

Frank Demarais has led housing and housing finance enterprises across the continuum of affordable housing for over 40 years.  These efforts have included development of mortgage-backed securities structures at Freddie Mac in the 1980s, and as the Vice President of Product Development for Fannie Mae in the 1990s.

Since 2003, Frank has managed affordable housing production and direct services to low- and very low-income clients in the District of Columbia. He started and managed a non-profit mortgage company supporting homebuyers, homeowners and tenant purchases.

He has served as interim executive director of a homeless services organization, managing affordable housing development and social services for over 500 homeless families. Most recently, he managed the DC government’s down payment assistance program and then served as deputy director of Montgomery County’s Department of Housing & Community Affairs. Each of these roles involved expanding access to affordable housing and financial stability while building and maintaining coalitions with community partners and for-profit and nonprofit providers.

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Here’s what we’ll cover in one hour:

 Today’s housing market
 Steps to buying a home
 Credit scores and down payments
 Roles of the real estate agent and mortgage lender

If you have questions about the free, 1-hour First-Time Homebuyer Orientation Session, please reach out to us at: homebuyer@HIPhomes.org