Housing Opportunities Program

Expanding Housing Opportunities

In a recent survey, 74 percent of NAR members indicated a need for training on affordable housing.  To meet this need, NAR has developed a comprehensive, 6-hour Housing Opportunity course —Expanding Housing Opportunities — to be used as a component of state and local housing opportunity/affordable housing certification programs.

NAR will pilot this course in May 2009 at the NAR Mid-year Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Realtors® will learn how to:

• Identify and explain the range of affordable housing opportunities and their benefits to clients
• Describe how affordability affects the housing market, their clients, their business, and their
  community
• Better analyze affordable financing options, including local, state, federal, and nonprofit
  assistance programs for buyers and renters; and 
• Build partnerships to expand housing opportunities through advocacy, workforce housing initiatives, and green building concepts

Realtors® taking this course will learn how to work with community groups, employers, and local officials to identify and gain access to quality affordable housing options for their clients. They will also learn how varied types of housing and alternative ownership models can widen their clients’ range of affordable options.

Additionally, after taking the course, REALT ORS® will be prepared to expand their field of vision to bring lenders, housing counselors, and community organizations into the REALT OR®-client partnership. They will see examples of how to work with their communities to create affordable housing through advocacy, workforce housing initiatives, and green building concepts.

NAR is currently recruiting associations to pilot this course in 2009. NAR will:

• Provide a six-hour course that works as a standalone class or as a complement to state and local
  curricula
• Cover the cost for the pilot classes offered in 2009
• Provide NAR-approved trainers with specialized knowledge and expertise to teach the course
  

As a sponsor, you will commit to:

• Incorporate Expanding Housing Opportunities into your housing opportunity–related certification
  programs, either existing or newly created
• Offer the course two times within 12 months of the initial pilot
• Continue to offer the course for two years following the initial pilot

♦ Expanding Housing Opportunities Brochure

 To become a sponsor or for more information, call Lora McCray at 202-383-7560 or e-mail lmccray@realtors.org.