Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N), a Fort Collins/Loveland non-profit that helps families achieve homeownership will offer home buyer classes in April. This class meets the certificate requirements for CHFA, City of Fort Collins and Larimer County down payment assistance programs as well as the HUD counseling requirement needed for Fannie Mae My Community Loan Products.

Research shows that homeowners who receive pre-purchase homeownership counseling are more than 30 percent less likely to default on their mortgage than homeowners who do not receive counseling. That’s especially significant in Colorado, which ranks with the fifth-highest foreclosure rate in the nation, according to RealtyTrac.

Classes cover topics including tips for budgeting and saving for down payment, establishing and maintaining good credit, shopping for a loan, negotiating the price of a home, home owner’s insurance, energy efficiency and protecting your investment once you are a homeowner.

The next classes will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at the RE/Max Alliance office on Boardwalk and Harmony in Fort Collins and on Saturday, April 25 at The Ranch in Loveland.

Register online at N2N’s Web site www.n2n.org or by calling (970) 663-4163. Classes are free; class participants may purchase the book for $15.