The National Association of REALTORS® has launched a new, comprehensive program designed to empower and encourage the nation’s 800,000 REALTORS® to become aggressive advocates for the creation of new affordable housing opportunities in their own communities.
NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program, launched at the 2002 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans last month, will equip Realtors® with tools they can use, including training, research, communications activities and opportunities to work in coalition with allied interests to promote the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing projects in their communities.
The program’s centerpiece is a living Web site (www.REALTOR.org/housingopportunity) that highlights successful affordable housing opportunity programs, provides tools, and shares a wealth of resources that Realtors and others can use to help promote housing opportunities in their communities.
“The lack of housing opportunities is dividing America into two nations, one of ‘housing haves’ — families that bought property before the price explosion or who can afford high prices — and another of ‘housing have-nots,’ who must scale down their expectations and make lifestyle sacrifices to afford adequate shelter,” said outgoing NAR President Marvin Edwards, a partner in Colliers Wilkinson & Snowden Inc. of Memphis.
“REALTORS® have a stake in seeing that residential housing markets thrive and business and commercial sectors prosper. These can occur only when there are plentiful affordable housing opportunities—rental as well as ownership—for all economic groups. Healthy communities require affordable housing opportunities. Housing opportunities are business opportunities for REALTORS®,” Edwards said.
In addition to the Web site, the program includes:
• Research to help REALTORS® and policymakers better understand housing concerns in their communities. Two research studies sponsored by the program, one on affordable housing in New Orleans and another on the impact of federally assisted housing programs on neighboring residential values, were released at the conference;
• Training and business development to educate REALTORS® about the importance of counseling consumers about the full range of housing options and to introduce Realtors® to business opportunities in affordable housing;
• Coalition building activities at the national, state and local levels to develop and advocate new approaches that make housing more affordable;
• Advocacy to promote safe, healthy and affordable housing and viable housing finance options; and
• Communications activities to encourage housing interests and policymakers to work together to find effective solutions.
More than 200 local and state REALTOR® boards and associations already sponsor affordable housing or housing opportunities programs. NAR President Cathy Whatley has urged all REALTOR® organizations to initiate local programs by June 2003, National Homeownership Month.