RISMedia, June 3, 2011—Seventeen local and state REALTOR® associations have been awarded over $60,000 through the Housing Opportunity Program Grants, a National Association of REALTORS® grant program. The funds will be used by the associations to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities.
“REALTORS® strive to preserve and expand housing opportunities for all Americans,” says NAR President Ron Phipps. “The Housing Opportunity grants program and its recipients are working hard to build communities across the country with affordable housing opportunities for families who might not otherwise be able to purchase a home in that area. Through these grants, home ownership can become an attainable dream for many hard working American families.”
NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program Grants was established in 2006. Individual grants of up to $5,000 are awarded twice per year, in April and October. Since the program’s inception, more than 150 grants totaling over $500,000 have been awarded.
The grants support a wide range of housing opportunity activities, including housing symposia; home buyer education or housing fairs; counseling and financial literacy efforts; down payment or closing cost financial assistance programs; public opinion surveys; and REALTOR® affordable housing education.
The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org.