Buying your first house is truly a big deal! In this 8-hour, in person class we will cover everything you need to know about the buying process and owning a home afterwards. You will learn the steps involved in buying, how to set goals, and prepare for homeownership, explore loan products and credit, protect and grow your investment, and how to avoid being ripped off. A Homebuyers Education Certificate can help you access down payment assistance or mortgage products that require HUD-certified home buyers education - and it is good for two years. Register here at midmaine.maineadulted.org and the computer program will take you to the KVCAP registration site to finish the registration process - that cost will be $30. Limit 24 students. Tuesday - Thursday, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Feb. 7 - 9 (3 sessions) Messalonskee High School, Room 305 Self-Supporting Fee: Free, Laurie Wadsworth, of the KVCAP Housing Services Program

Register here: http://reg.planetReg.com/E1181233710888

It’s not what you make; it’s what you keep. This class is will be an overview of tax-advantaged investments such as municipal bonds. We will consider IRAs and how they work with Traditional and Roth IRAs as well as 401K and 403b. Just in time for tax season! All fees are to help cover MMRACE’s expenses. Makeup date Mar. 7. Limit 20 students.

Whether you are newly eligible for Medicare or have been enrolled for years, this class has something for everyone. This class will help you gain information on how to obtain Medicare, when you are eligible, and many other important topics. We will also discuss supplemental insurance that can be purchased to compliment original Medicare. There are many different products and carriers available therefore it is so important to become educated about the options you can choose. Medicare has various enrollment periods, which give you the opportunity to change your policy if appropriate. Anyone with questions about Medicare will find this class helpful. The instructor can offer insurance products through Maine Medicare Solutions, a licensed insurance agency. All fees are to help cover MMRACE’s expenses Limit 10 students.

In this class we will go from thinking about what to sell or buy to what happens when you do sell or buy. We will cover listing, final value, fees, shipping, and other costs that affect your bottom line. For this class you will need a fully charged laptop, tablet or smartphone and a few items to list on eBay. We will be researching these items, so please bring them to the first class. (If it is large, valuable, or breakable bring detailed pictures and information about the item.) Inclement weather make up will be Tuesday, Mar. 21. Limit 10 students.

Do you manage large sets of numbers, names, dates, or other pieces of information? If so, then you need to create worksheets to manage, store, organize, and even analyze this information. Excel, Microsoft’s powerful spreadsheet software, is the most widely-used program to handle this task. This course focuses on the mastering the fundamentals of Excel. You will learn how to quickly and efficiently create fully formatted worksheets, learn common formulas and functions, sorting and analyzing data, and custom charts and graphs. You will also learn the compatibility with other MS Office Suite Products. Students will need to bring a thumb drive to class. Students who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of completion. Limit nine students.

This class is for those who are new to investing or would like a strategy refresher. We will discuss basic rules of investing--how to develop a plan, how to choose quality investments, how to diversify your portfolio, and most importantly how to invest for the long term, and focus on the things that you can control. All fees are to help cover MMRACE’s expenses. Makeup date Mar. 28. Limit 20 students.

This workshop will help you decide if self-employment is the right choice for you. The class covers the pros and cons of owning your own business, the steps needed for start-up, the major elements of a business plan, and the many resources available to help you succeed. Limit 20 students.

Learn the difference between a Last Will and Testament and a Trust. Then you will learn what a Last Will and Testament does that a Trust does not do, and what a Trust does that a Last Will and Testament cannot do. Then learn how to pass your assets on outside of the probate process. Attorney Nale will be available after class to answer your questions. All fees are to help cover MMRACE’s expenses. Makeup date Apr. 5. Limit 20 students.