Potential homebuyers can educate themselves by participating in one of Dakota County Community Development Agency's homeownership courses such as: - Home Stretch Homebuyer Education Program: Teaches homebuyers about the entire home buying process from beginning to end and the responsibilities of owning a home. Courses are offered monthly with a total of 9 hours. - Pre-Purchase Counseling: Free individual advising to households purchasing a home in Dakota County and have completed the Home Stretch course. Counseling assists homebuyers in developing a plan to become successful homeowners, save for a down payment, or repair their credit history. - Refinance Counseling: Provides one-on-one counseling sessions to homeowners with an opportunity to compare their current mortgage against a refinanced mortgage