The cost of housing in the U.S. has been climbing and for many families, it’s harder than ever to keep up. Between rising property values, stricter lending conditions and limited access to upfront capital, the path to homeownership can feel nearly impossible, especially for first-time buyers without financial support.
Daniel Sansary, executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Greater Berks Inc., says this shift is deeply personal. The dream of homeownership is gradually slipping out of reach and “the word ‘affordable’ housing is losing its touch” he says.
In many neighborhoods, home prices that were once within reach for working families have more than doubled. Homebuyers have had to bear the brunt, seeking innovative solutions to ease their concerns.
A model that goes beyond the transaction
NHS Greater Berks, a NeighborWorks® network organization in Reading, Pennsylvania, has spent the past decades developing a model that focuses on more than just buying and selling homes. At its core, the organization is rooted in education, counseling, and long-term financial empowerment. This approach has been successful year after year; the network organization has created nearly 250 to 300 new homebuyers, providing the services and resources needed by families in the region.
Sansary describes the NHS model as built on two equally important pillars: lending products and education. “At NHS, we provide financial empowerment for our families. We do these two different ways, by providing down payment and closing cost loans to help families achieve their dreams of homeownership, and by providing them with the education components.”
The educational component is the backbone of what the NHS delivers, he says “We believe that counseling provides the backbone of a stable and good homeowner, as well as providing the financial education they need in order to make the decisions they have to take before they become homeowners.” This holistic approach ensures that families aren’t just able to buy a home; they’re able to keep it and thrive in the long term.
Alicia McCoy, NeighborWorks’ interim vice president, National Homeownership Programs and Lending, agrees. “At NeighborWorks America, housing counseling and homebuyer education are central to both our mission and our legacy,” she says. In fiscal year 2025, NeighborWorks and the network 17,600 homeowners across our network, and housing counselors and education were an integral part of that. The network counseled or educated 102,900 customers on housing and financial capability.
The challenges faced
The challenges facing first-time homebuyers have shifted significantly over the years.
According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), home prices have surged nationwide since 2020, with more than 73 of the 100 largest U.S. markets seeing increases above 50%. In 2024, nearly half of renter households were cost-burdened, and about one in four spent over half of their income just to stay housed.
The challenges have evolved, too. There was a time when credit was the biggest obstacle.
“Now it’s access to capital,” Sansary says. Families have done the work — they’ve repaired their credit and stabilized their finances. But they still struggle to cover down payments and closing costs.
That’s exactly where NHS steps in. Their programs are designed to bridge this gap, helping families clear one of the biggest hurdles in today’s housing market, and help families find solutions in their market and their region.
The first step: Asking for help
For those just starting the homebuying journey, Sansary offers one simple but important piece of advice: Don’t try to do it alone. Seeking guidance early on can make all the difference, whether it’s understanding your finances, improving your credit, or exploring available resources.
“I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live in a safe place,” he says. “Whether you’re renting or buying, that sense of security matters.”
Where housing affordability is headed
Harvard’s 2026 housing report makes one thing clear: Without continued investment in organizations like NHS, the affordability gap will only continue to grow.
Community-based, regional housing counseling opportunities like those supported by NeighborWorks America are designed to meet families where they are and provide the support they need. Because NeighborWorks and its network believe every family deserves a safe, stable place to call home.
Follow NeighborWorks America on all digital platforms to learn more about lasting housing solutions in your area.
