Real-estate classes,

seminars and events

SUN: JAN. 8, FEB. 5 Free homebuyer seminar, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Seminar covers the steps of buying a home and getting financing, along with the process of getting a loan, credit, market conditions, title, escrow, home inspection as well as homebuyer-assistance programs. Bring your specific questions. 155 N.E. 100th, Seattle. Call 206-769-9776 to make a reservation. Or go to www.davecoons.org

MON: JAN. 9 First-time homebuyer class. Free. Learn about buying in today's market, financing, answers to the most commonly asked questions, and how to get started. Class starts at 6 p.m. at the Windermere Real Estate office in Bellevue, 1200 112th Ave. N.E., Suite B-100, Bellevue. Registration required by calling 425-450-2621.

THUR: JAN. 12, JAN. 19, JAN. 26, FEB. 2, FEB. 9, FEB. 16, FEB. 23, MARCH 1 Free homebuyer seminar, 1-3 p.m. Learn to bid online and buy Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homes. Join us at Metropolitan Realty Group to learn the process of searching, online bidding and buying HUD homes from our in-house HUD Training Specialist, April Brown. RSVP required call: 888-940-9777. Website: www.metrorgi.com. 12900 N.E. 180th St., No. 120 (In the Falcon View Building), Bothell.

SAT: JAN. 14 Homebuyer workshop. Learn the 19 steps to buy a home taught by a professional residential real-estate specialist. Attendees receive a three-ring binder with sample listings of bank-owned houses, town homes and condos, and other homebuyer information. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Continental Building, 11555 S.E. Eighth St., Bellevue. Free, but preregistration required. Call 800-882-8931, ext. 211 or go to www.HomeBuyerRegistration.com.

Nonprofit assistance

El Centro de la Raza — Program offering free bilingual counseling and education services on the first two Saturdays of each month in Spanish and English, helping people improve their financial and housing situations; registration required. Free. 206-957-4610 or www.elcentrodelaraza.org/programs/homeownership.htm

HomeSight — Nonprofit group offers affordable home loans, financial counseling and two homebuyer-education classes demystifying the purchase process. $40 (206-723-4355 or www.homesightwa.org)

Homestead Community Land Trust — Nonprofit group offers down-payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers. 206-323-1227 orwww.homesteadclt.org