Field Guide to Affordable Housing
(Updated August 2008)
Affordable housing is a nationwide problem. Find out the latest affordable housing news, new trends in affordable housing design, the latest research and much more on this important topic. (A. Siudzinski, Information Specialist)
San Francisco...........58%
New York.................53%
Los Angeles.............51%
Boston....................49%
Washington.............29%
Philadelphia.............27%
Chicago...................21%
Houston..................19%
Detroit....................12%
Dallas.....................10%
United States...........47%
Source: Community Acceptance of Affordable Housing, (National Association of REALTORS®, National Center for Real Estate Research, June 2004, p. 61).
Developing low-income housing takes tenacity, patience, (Kansas City Business Journal, July 4, 2008).
Long-term affordable housing strategies in hot real estate markets, (NeighborWorks America/Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, May 2008).
Nashville in the top 20 in affordable housing, (Nashville Business Journal, Mar. 28, 2008).
As houses empty, cities seek ways to fill void, (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 6, 2008). Q
Affordable housing in Boulder, Colorado, (Boulder Tomorrow, Jan. 7, 2008).
Affordable housing shortage, (National Real Estate Investor, Sept. 2006). Q
Downsizing affordable housing, (www.planetizen.com, Sept. 19, 2006).
Green Affordable Housing Design
Affordable housing goes green, (Washington Independent, Aug. 5, 2008).
Affordable housing finds green dollars, (Commercial Property News, June 1, 2008).
Rising energy costs spur green affordable housing, (Earth News, June 9, 2008).
Can housing be green and affordable?, (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Vol 16, no. 2, 2006).
Rebuilding a better, greener, New Orleans, (www.msnbc.com, July 18, 2006).
Beautiful, Green and Affordable, (American Institute of Architects, May 2006).
Useful Websites
Housing Opportunity Program - The National Association of REALTORS®' program works with REALTORS® to promote homeownership at the national, local and state level.
The Enterprise Foundation- This group supports community developers around the nation to provide affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity International - Habitat for Humanity, a Christian housing ministry, works to build affordable houses in partnership with the homeowner partner families.
Housing Assistance Council - Since 1971, the Housing Assistance Council has helped build rural affordable housing.
National Housing Conference - For almost 75 years, this nonprofit group is the premier affordable housing advocate.
National Rural Housing Coalition - The NRCH works to provide people in rural areas a decent, affordable place to live.
NeighborWorks - Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation - This group of community development organizations works to "strengthen communities."
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Housing Segregation in Suburban America since 1960 (Adobe eReader)
Real Estate in American History (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
The business of affordable housing: ten developers' perspectives, (Washington, D.C.,: Urban Land Institute, 2007). HD 7293 Ur1ba
Why not in our community? Removing barriers to affordable housing, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Urban Housing, Office of Policy Development and Research, 2005). HD 7293 Un3wn
House by House, Block by Block: The Rebirth of America's Urban Neighborhoods, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003). HT 175 V89
Housing in the Twenty-First Century: Achieving Common Ground, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003). HD 7293 C72h
A Primer on U.S. Housing Markets and Housing Policy, (Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press, 2003). HD 7293 G687
Low-income Homeownership: Examining the Unexamined Goal, (Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 2002). HD 7287 L68
Developing Successful Infill Housing, (Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute, 2002). NAC 1800 Ur1si
The Color of Credit: Mortgage Discrimination, Research Methodology, and Fair-Lending Enforcement, (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002). HG 2040 R67
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Housing Trust Funds
Field Guide to Effects of Low Income Housing on Surrounding Property Values
Field Guide to Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
E-mail 
