Examining the Connection Between Housing Counseling Practices and Long-Term Housing and Neighborhood Satisfaction

Abstract

Housing counseling can increase homeownership opportunities for economically disadvantaged households. Prior research has generally viewed counseling as a means to reduce risk for mortgage lenders and insurers. This approach, which comes from the industry perspective, ignores important qualitative outcomes essential to a “successful” housing experience. This study focused on the end-user perspective by examining pre-purchase housing counseling agency practices that were associated with better long-term residential satisfaction outcomes of housing counseling clients within their respective communities. Clients from 26 housing counseling agencies in Philadelphia reported satisfaction levels with their dwelling unit and neighborhood at least 5 years after their home purchase. This study examined what pre-purchase housing counseling agency practices were associated with better long-term residential satisfaction outcomes of housing counseling clients within their respective communities. Certain practices, especially those signifying heightened accountability to outside reviewers, as well as initial one-to-one counseling sessions, were related to better long-term satisfaction outcomes.