Matthias Howley ’21
Company / School: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Position / Degree: Bilingual HUD-Certified Housing Counselor
Overview
Bilingual HUD-Certified Housing Counselor, Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Brooklyn, NY
- BA, Hispanic Studies, Urban Studies, Vassar College
Matthias Howley (he/him) is a Bilingual HUD-Certified Housing Counselor for Neighbors Helping Neighbors. To be a counselor, it requires one to pass a HUD (US Dept of Housing & Urban Development) exam, demonstrating expertise in housing law, finance, and history. A counselor typically has 100-150 clients at once, meeting with them every 2-3 months. This position in particular is for first-time homeownership, assisting people to improve credit, reduce debt, adjust their budget, and educate them on various mortgage products, to empower them to make an informed decision. Furthermore, working with a counselor can grant you access to down payment assistance, lowered interest rates, more flexible loan standards, and subsidized ownership opportunities. Most banks, due to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), are required to provide programs like these to ensure they are loaning to low-to-moderate income residents, and as a counselor, you ensure these benefits are accessed and met.
Advice to Students:
You have already done so much of the effort by attending an institution that has such a great reputation among employers, so give yourself some grace. What I found that worked for me when starting my career was building rapport. While it is important to be knowledgeable, being conversational and genuine with colleagues and/or partners is even more memorable and can make you stand out in the long-run. If you are a welcoming presence and build relationships along the way, more opportunities can open up for you.
