HUD HOUSING COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025
WhatRisRtheRmaximumRpercentRofRareaRmedianRincomeRallowableRforRaRhouseholdRtoRqualifyRforRaRHousin
gRChoiceRVoucher?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-50%
WhichRisRtheRmaximumRrecommendedRhousingRratioRforRrentingRanRapartment?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
30%
EligibilityRrequirementsRforRdown-paymentRassistanceRprogramsRincludeRwhichRfactors?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Income,Rhome-buyerReducation,RpurchaseRprice
TheRclientRisRconsideringRanRFHARmortgage.RWhatRisRtheRupfrontRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(UFMIP)Rfo
rRan
FHARmortgage?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-1.75%
IfRtheRclientRwasRdeniedRaRmortgageRloanRandRtheRlenderRtoldRhimRtoRcomeRbackRafterRhisRdivorceRhadRbee
nRfinalRforRthreeRyears,RwhatRisRtheRbestRadviceRforRtheRhousingRcounselorRtoRprovideRtoRtheRclientRtoRrepor
tRaRviolationRtoRECOA?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ContactRtheRFederalRTradeRCommissionRasRtheRlender'sRactionRmightRviolateRtheREqualRCreditROpportunityR
Act
ARquestionRfromRaRlenderRonRtheRclient'sRMedicalRHistoryRwouldRbeRinappropriateRorRappropriate?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Inappropriate
WhoRisRresponsibleRforReducatingRhome-buyersRaboutRtheirRrights?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
HousingRCounselor
InRorderRtoRminimizeRtheRimpactRonRtheRclient'sRcreditRscore,RwhatRisRtheRmaximumRtimeRframeRwithinRwhi
chRtheRclientRshouldRapplyRforRpre-approvalRfromRmultipleRlenders?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-AR30-dayRperiod
,WhatRareRtheRresponsibilitiesRofRaRhomeRinspector?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ExamineRmechanicalRsystems,REvaluateRtheRconditionRofRaRhome,RIdentifyRitemsRtoRbeRrepairedRorRreplace
d
WhichRisRtheRbestRreasonRthatRaRhousingRcounselorRwouldRsuggestRthatRaRclientRspeakRtoRthreeRtoRfiveRdiff
erentRlenders?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-ToRcompareRloanRestimates
WhichRisRtheRbestRadviceRthatRaRhousingRcounselorRcanRgiveRtheRclientRtoRprotectRagainstRidentityRtheft?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-ReviewRcreditRreportRatRleastRonceRperRyear
TheRclientRtellsRtheRlenderRthatRheRisRexpectingRaRraiseRsoon.RShouldRtheRLenderRprovideRaRLoanREstimateR(
LE)Rwith,RorRwithoutRfactoringRtheRraise?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ProvideRaRloanRestimateRwithoutRfactoringRinRtheRraise
IfRthisRclientRobtainsRaRmortgageRofR$100,000,Rtypically,RhowRmuchRshouldRheRexpectRtoRpayRforRclosingRco
sts?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$3000RtoR$4000
IsRApplicationRFeeRanRupfrontRcostRofRclientsRwhoRareRconsideringRrentingRorRbuyingRaRproperty?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Renting
ARclientRwantsRtoRcustomizeRhisRhomeRwithRdo-it-
yourselfRprojects,RthisRisRanRindicationRtheRclientRisRbestRalignedRwithRwhichRhousingRoption;RHome-
ownershipRorRRenting?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-Home-ownership
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RWhatRisRtheRmaximumRmor
tgageRpaymentR(roundedRtoRtheRnearestRdollar)RforRwhichRthisRclientRwouldRqualifyRusingRaRstandardRconv
entionalRloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$1,065
NOTE:RTheRmaximumRfront-endRratioRforRaRstandardRconventionalRloanRisR28%,RandRtheRback-
endRratioRisR36%.RTheRfront-
endRratioRisRcalculatedRasR28%RofRtheRclient'sRmonthlyRincomeRofR$4,167,RwhichRisR$1,167.RTheRback-
endRratioRisRcalculatedRasR36%RofRthe
client'sRmonthlyRincomeRofR$4,167RminusRtheRclient'sRmonthlyRdebtRofR$435,RwhichRequalsR$1,065.RTheref
ore,RtheRmaximumRloanRpaymentRthatRtheRclientRqualifiesRforRisRtheRlowerRofRtheRtwoRnumbers,RwhichRisR$
1,065.
,WhichRisRtheRmaximumRdebt-to-incomeRratioRallowableRforRanRFHARloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-43%
WhichRisRtheRmaximumRdebt-to-incomeRratioRallowableRforRanRFHAREnergyREfficiencyRMortgageRloan?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-45%
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RWithRaRmonthlyRmortgageR
paymentRofR$950,RwhichRisRtheRclient'sRdebt-to-incomeRratioR(roundRtoRtheRnearestRwholeRpercent)?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-33%
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RIfRtheRclientRseeksRanRFHARE
nergyREfficientRMortgageR(EEM)Rloan,RwhatRisRtheRmaximumRhousingRpaymentRforRwhichRheRcanRqualifyR(r
oundedRtoRtheRnearestRdollar)?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$1,292
OnRwhichRfactorRisRaRborrower'sRannualRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(MIP)Rbased?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-CurrentRprincipalRbalance
NOTE:RTheRannualRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(MIP)RisRbasedRonRtheRunpaidRprincipalRbalanceRofRtheRlo
an.RTheRloan-to-
valueRratioRisRusedRtoRdetermineRwhenRprivateRmortgageRinsuranceR(PMI)RcanRbeRdroppedRfromRtheRloan.R
CreditRscoresRdoRnotRaffectRMIPRbutRmightRaffectRPMI.
WhichRisRtheRupfrontRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(UFMIP)RifRtheRclientRpurchasesRaRhomeRwithRanRFHARl
oanRamountRofR$116,000?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$2,030
TheRclientRonlyRtracksRbillRpayments.RWhichRshouldRtheRhousingRcounselorRrecommendRtoRhelpRtheRclientR
begin
planningRforRaRhomeRpurchase?
A-RContinueRtoRtrackRbillRpaymentsRonly
B-RTrackRincomeRonly
C-RTrackRallRincomeRandRexpenses
D-RTrackRsavingsRdepositsRandRexpensesR-RCORRECTRANSWERR-C-RTrackRallRincomeRandRexpenses
, HowRshouldRaRclientRapplyRforRtheRHousingRChoiceRVoucherRProgram?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ContactRtheRlocalRPublicRHousingRAuthority
WhichRwebsiteRprovidesRinformationRonRprogramsRtoRassistRhome-
buyersRwithRdownRpaymentRassistance?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-HUD.gov
BasedRonRtheRclient'sRincomeRofR$56,400RperRyearRof,RsavingsRofR12,000RtowardRaRdownRpayment,RandRcre
ditRscoreRofR700,RwhichRmortgageRoptionRisRlikelyRbestRforRher;RConventionalRloan,RFHARloan,RUSDARRuralRD
evelopmentRloan,RorRSubprimeRloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-ConventionalRloan
ThisRclientRisRdeniedRaRloanRtoRpurchaseRaRhomeRbecauseRsheRhasRnotRlivedRinRtheRcountryRforRatRleastRtenR
years.RWhichRActRisRthisRadverseRactionRviolating,RandRwhereRshouldRtheRclientRreportRthisRactionRto?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ReportRtheRactionRtoRtheRFederalRTradeRCommission,RitRisRaRviolationRofRtheREqualRCreditROpportunityRAct
IfRtheRclientRsubmitsRaRloanRapplication,RwhichRdocumentRshouldRsheRreceiveRwithinRthreeRbusinessRdays?R
-RCORRECTRANSWERR-LoanREstimate
WhatRisRaRpre-approvalRfromRaRlender?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
WhenRtheRlenderRcommitsRtoRlendRaRfixedRamountRbasedRonRaRreviewRofRtheRclient'sRapplication.
ARclientRhasRbeenRaRparalegalRforRfiveRyearsRandRearnsR$56,400RperRyear.RSheRhasRbeenRworkingRpart-
timeRatRanRiceRcreamRparlorRforRtheRpastRfewRsummersRtoRsaveRforRherRfirstRhome.RNowRthatRsheRhasRsaved
R$12,000RtowardRaRdownRpayment,RsheRnoRlongerRneedsRtoRworkRaRsecondRjob.RInRtheRnextRthreeRmonths,R
theRclientRwouldRlikeRtoRbuyRaRsingle-familyRhomeRnearRaRgoodRschoolRforRlessRthanR$150,000.R
DoesRthisRclientRmeetRaRlender'sRexpectationRforRcontinuedRemployment?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
Yes,RbecauseRtheRclientRhasRbeenRatRherRjobRoverRtwoRyears
InRreviewingRaRloanRestimate,RtheRhousingRcounselorRfindsRfeesRforRservicesRthatRseemRunnecessary.RWhat
RisRtheRmostRlikelyRexplanationRforRtheseRfees?RChooseRone:
A-RPredatoryRlendingRpractices
B-RSubprimeRmortgageRterms
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025
WhatRisRtheRmaximumRpercentRofRareaRmedianRincomeRallowableRforRaRhouseholdRtoRqualifyRforRaRHousin
gRChoiceRVoucher?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-50%
WhichRisRtheRmaximumRrecommendedRhousingRratioRforRrentingRanRapartment?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
30%
EligibilityRrequirementsRforRdown-paymentRassistanceRprogramsRincludeRwhichRfactors?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Income,Rhome-buyerReducation,RpurchaseRprice
TheRclientRisRconsideringRanRFHARmortgage.RWhatRisRtheRupfrontRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(UFMIP)Rfo
rRan
FHARmortgage?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-1.75%
IfRtheRclientRwasRdeniedRaRmortgageRloanRandRtheRlenderRtoldRhimRtoRcomeRbackRafterRhisRdivorceRhadRbee
nRfinalRforRthreeRyears,RwhatRisRtheRbestRadviceRforRtheRhousingRcounselorRtoRprovideRtoRtheRclientRtoRrepor
tRaRviolationRtoRECOA?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ContactRtheRFederalRTradeRCommissionRasRtheRlender'sRactionRmightRviolateRtheREqualRCreditROpportunityR
Act
ARquestionRfromRaRlenderRonRtheRclient'sRMedicalRHistoryRwouldRbeRinappropriateRorRappropriate?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Inappropriate
WhoRisRresponsibleRforReducatingRhome-buyersRaboutRtheirRrights?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
HousingRCounselor
InRorderRtoRminimizeRtheRimpactRonRtheRclient'sRcreditRscore,RwhatRisRtheRmaximumRtimeRframeRwithinRwhi
chRtheRclientRshouldRapplyRforRpre-approvalRfromRmultipleRlenders?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-AR30-dayRperiod
,WhatRareRtheRresponsibilitiesRofRaRhomeRinspector?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ExamineRmechanicalRsystems,REvaluateRtheRconditionRofRaRhome,RIdentifyRitemsRtoRbeRrepairedRorRreplace
d
WhichRisRtheRbestRreasonRthatRaRhousingRcounselorRwouldRsuggestRthatRaRclientRspeakRtoRthreeRtoRfiveRdiff
erentRlenders?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-ToRcompareRloanRestimates
WhichRisRtheRbestRadviceRthatRaRhousingRcounselorRcanRgiveRtheRclientRtoRprotectRagainstRidentityRtheft?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-ReviewRcreditRreportRatRleastRonceRperRyear
TheRclientRtellsRtheRlenderRthatRheRisRexpectingRaRraiseRsoon.RShouldRtheRLenderRprovideRaRLoanREstimateR(
LE)Rwith,RorRwithoutRfactoringRtheRraise?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ProvideRaRloanRestimateRwithoutRfactoringRinRtheRraise
IfRthisRclientRobtainsRaRmortgageRofR$100,000,Rtypically,RhowRmuchRshouldRheRexpectRtoRpayRforRclosingRco
sts?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$3000RtoR$4000
IsRApplicationRFeeRanRupfrontRcostRofRclientsRwhoRareRconsideringRrentingRorRbuyingRaRproperty?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-Renting
ARclientRwantsRtoRcustomizeRhisRhomeRwithRdo-it-
yourselfRprojects,RthisRisRanRindicationRtheRclientRisRbestRalignedRwithRwhichRhousingRoption;RHome-
ownershipRorRRenting?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-Home-ownership
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RWhatRisRtheRmaximumRmor
tgageRpaymentR(roundedRtoRtheRnearestRdollar)RforRwhichRthisRclientRwouldRqualifyRusingRaRstandardRconv
entionalRloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$1,065
NOTE:RTheRmaximumRfront-endRratioRforRaRstandardRconventionalRloanRisR28%,RandRtheRback-
endRratioRisR36%.RTheRfront-
endRratioRisRcalculatedRasR28%RofRtheRclient'sRmonthlyRincomeRofR$4,167,RwhichRisR$1,167.RTheRback-
endRratioRisRcalculatedRasR36%RofRthe
client'sRmonthlyRincomeRofR$4,167RminusRtheRclient'sRmonthlyRdebtRofR$435,RwhichRequalsR$1,065.RTheref
ore,RtheRmaximumRloanRpaymentRthatRtheRclientRqualifiesRforRisRtheRlowerRofRtheRtwoRnumbers,RwhichRisR$
1,065.
,WhichRisRtheRmaximumRdebt-to-incomeRratioRallowableRforRanRFHARloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-43%
WhichRisRtheRmaximumRdebt-to-incomeRratioRallowableRforRanRFHAREnergyREfficiencyRMortgageRloan?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-45%
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RWithRaRmonthlyRmortgageR
paymentRofR$950,RwhichRisRtheRclient'sRdebt-to-incomeRratioR(roundRtoRtheRnearestRwholeRpercent)?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-33%
TheRclient'sRgrossRmonthlyRincomeRisR$4167RandRtheRmonthlyRdebtsRareR$435.RIfRtheRclientRseeksRanRFHARE
nergyREfficientRMortgageR(EEM)Rloan,RwhatRisRtheRmaximumRhousingRpaymentRforRwhichRheRcanRqualifyR(r
oundedRtoRtheRnearestRdollar)?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$1,292
OnRwhichRfactorRisRaRborrower'sRannualRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(MIP)Rbased?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-CurrentRprincipalRbalance
NOTE:RTheRannualRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(MIP)RisRbasedRonRtheRunpaidRprincipalRbalanceRofRtheRlo
an.RTheRloan-to-
valueRratioRisRusedRtoRdetermineRwhenRprivateRmortgageRinsuranceR(PMI)RcanRbeRdroppedRfromRtheRloan.R
CreditRscoresRdoRnotRaffectRMIPRbutRmightRaffectRPMI.
WhichRisRtheRupfrontRmortgageRinsuranceRpremiumR(UFMIP)RifRtheRclientRpurchasesRaRhomeRwithRanRFHARl
oanRamountRofR$116,000?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-$2,030
TheRclientRonlyRtracksRbillRpayments.RWhichRshouldRtheRhousingRcounselorRrecommendRtoRhelpRtheRclientR
begin
planningRforRaRhomeRpurchase?
A-RContinueRtoRtrackRbillRpaymentsRonly
B-RTrackRincomeRonly
C-RTrackRallRincomeRandRexpenses
D-RTrackRsavingsRdepositsRandRexpensesR-RCORRECTRANSWERR-C-RTrackRallRincomeRandRexpenses
, HowRshouldRaRclientRapplyRforRtheRHousingRChoiceRVoucherRProgram?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ContactRtheRlocalRPublicRHousingRAuthority
WhichRwebsiteRprovidesRinformationRonRprogramsRtoRassistRhome-
buyersRwithRdownRpaymentRassistance?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-HUD.gov
BasedRonRtheRclient'sRincomeRofR$56,400RperRyearRof,RsavingsRofR12,000RtowardRaRdownRpayment,RandRcre
ditRscoreRofR700,RwhichRmortgageRoptionRisRlikelyRbestRforRher;RConventionalRloan,RFHARloan,RUSDARRuralRD
evelopmentRloan,RorRSubprimeRloan?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-ConventionalRloan
ThisRclientRisRdeniedRaRloanRtoRpurchaseRaRhomeRbecauseRsheRhasRnotRlivedRinRtheRcountryRforRatRleastRtenR
years.RWhichRActRisRthisRadverseRactionRviolating,RandRwhereRshouldRtheRclientRreportRthisRactionRto?R-
RCORRECTRANSWERR-
ReportRtheRactionRtoRtheRFederalRTradeRCommission,RitRisRaRviolationRofRtheREqualRCreditROpportunityRAct
IfRtheRclientRsubmitsRaRloanRapplication,RwhichRdocumentRshouldRsheRreceiveRwithinRthreeRbusinessRdays?R
-RCORRECTRANSWERR-LoanREstimate
WhatRisRaRpre-approvalRfromRaRlender?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
WhenRtheRlenderRcommitsRtoRlendRaRfixedRamountRbasedRonRaRreviewRofRtheRclient'sRapplication.
ARclientRhasRbeenRaRparalegalRforRfiveRyearsRandRearnsR$56,400RperRyear.RSheRhasRbeenRworkingRpart-
timeRatRanRiceRcreamRparlorRforRtheRpastRfewRsummersRtoRsaveRforRherRfirstRhome.RNowRthatRsheRhasRsaved
R$12,000RtowardRaRdownRpayment,RsheRnoRlongerRneedsRtoRworkRaRsecondRjob.RInRtheRnextRthreeRmonths,R
theRclientRwouldRlikeRtoRbuyRaRsingle-familyRhomeRnearRaRgoodRschoolRforRlessRthanR$150,000.R
DoesRthisRclientRmeetRaRlender'sRexpectationRforRcontinuedRemployment?R-RCORRECTRANSWERR-
Yes,RbecauseRtheRclientRhasRbeenRatRherRjobRoverRtwoRyears
InRreviewingRaRloanRestimate,RtheRhousingRcounselorRfindsRfeesRforRservicesRthatRseemRunnecessary.RWhat
RisRtheRmostRlikelyRexplanationRforRtheseRfees?RChooseRone:
A-RPredatoryRlendingRpractices
B-RSubprimeRmortgageRterms