1. Information We Collect
ReadyOwn Pathway collects the following information:
- Account information (name, email, phone number)
- Financial information (income, debt, savings, credit score ranges)
- Learning progress (module completion, quiz scores, badges, XP, streaks, and daily quests earned)
- Home purchase details (target home price, down payment, ideal setting, and saved calculator/budget inputs)
- Inspiration photos and a vision statement you upload to your vision board
- A signature image you upload to sign your HUD intake package
- Preferred language (English or Spanish) and preferred contact method
- Device information (IP address, device type, operating system)
- Usage metadata (pages visited, tools and components used, features engaged with, time spent, and interaction events)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Provide and improve the ReadyOwn Pathway homebuyer education program
- Issue homebuyer education certificates upon completion
- Personalize your learning experience and track progress
- Communicate with you about your account and program updates
- Aggregate analytics to improve app functionality
- Display live mortgage rate estimates from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) and match you to loan programs
- Search and stack Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs and calculate your purchase power worksheet
- Pre-populate a side-by-side loan comparison worksheet from your saved calculator inputs
- Build a monthly budget and export it to CSV
- Issue, purchase, and redeem homebuyer education certificates (including coupon redemption)
- Deliver the app in English or Spanish
- Collect usage metadata on how the app and its components are used, and share aggregated usage data with the Homeownership Council of America (HCA) centrally for program administration via our Admin portal
- Comply with HUD reporting requirements for homebuyer education
3. Data Protection
Your personal and financial information is encrypted in transit and at rest. We use industry-standard security practices to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, and destruction. Access to financial data is limited to authorized personnel and automated systems only.
4. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share information only in these circumstances:
Sharing your profile information with a HUD-approved housing counseling organization or lender is entirely optional and happens only when you explicitly select or authorize it within the app. We will never share your profile with these parties without your explicit consent, and you may withdraw a selection at any time before sending.
- With a HUD-approved housing counseling organization you select — only when you explicitly choose to send your intake package (which may include PDF, CSV, and FNMA 3.2 loan-application data files) to that organization
- With a lender or housing partner you select — only when you explicitly authorize sharing your profile information (including any referral details) with them
- With down payment assistance programs you authorize
- In aggregated, de-identified form with the Homeownership Council of America (HCA) for central program reporting and administration through our Admin portal
- When legally required by law enforcement or court order
- With our service providers under strict confidentiality agreements
5. Your Rights
You have the right to:
To exercise these rights, contact us at pathway@homeownershipcouncil.org.
- Access your personal information
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Opt out of non-essential communications
- Withdraw consent for data processing
6. Children's Privacy
ReadyOwn Pathway is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we become aware of such collection, we will delete it immediately.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy periodically. Significant changes will be communicated via email or prominent notice in the app. Continued use constitutes acceptance.
8. Third-Party Data Sources
ReadyOwn Pathway displays live mortgage rate estimates pulled from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI). These rates are third-party data provided for educational reference and may differ from the rates a lender offers you. We do not control FRED or OBMMI and are not responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, or availability of their data. DPA program listings and HUD agency/lender directory results are also sourced from third-party providers and may change without notice.
9. Contact Us
For privacy inquiries, contact: pathway@homeownershipcouncil.org