The Area Housing Authority will sponsor a free education workshop to help new homebuyers understand financial options to homeownership.

The workshops are scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 22 at Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; Tues., Jan. 27 at Moorpark Community Center; and Thurs., Feb. 19 at Simi Valley Town Center.

The purpose of the class is to inform low and moderateincome households of local, state and federal programs that help with the financing of a home.

The class also includes an overview of the tax advantages of homeownership and financing options for first-time homebuyers, defined as someone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years.

The workshop provides tips on raising and maintaining a high FICO score and steps to create a homeownership plan.

The event is not a sales pitch. All the professional educators selected to teach the workshop are certified by the National Institute of Financial Education.

For more information or to reserve a place, call the Area Housing Authority at (805) 4809991, ext. 235, or the professional educators at (800) 5490337, ext. 167.

Additional workshop dates, general information and class registration are also available online at the wesbsite www.ahahomebuyingschool.com.

The workshop will also be presented in Spanish on Thurs., Feb. 6 at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, call (805) 340-0994.