Media Center - Florida Realtors®

Contact:

Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2314
JeffZ@far.org

Marla Martin, Communications Manager
407/438-1400, ext. 2326
MarlaM@far.org

Florida Association of Realtors® Celebrates American Home Week

ORLANDO, Fla., April 2005 -- Florida Realtors® agree with Dorothy in the movie classic, “The Wizard of Oz”: There’s no place like home. And, to help celebrate that sentiment and promote homeownership, the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) encourages residents across the state to commemorate American Home Week 2005, April 10-16.

“Buying a home may be the best and biggest investment many Florida residents will ever make, and not just in a financial sense,” says 2005 FAR President Frank Kowalski. “More than just shelter, our homes are the places where we live, raise our families and realize our dreams for the future. Homeownership helps provide stability and financial security for many families. The percentage of Americans who own their homes was 69 percent nationwide and a terrific 72.2 percent in Florida in 2004. American Home Week serves as a reminder of the importance of providing homeownership opportunities to all citizens.”

Throughout Florida and around the nation, many local Realtor boards and associations celebrate American Home Week with various activities that help raise the public’s awareness of the importance of homeownership and its benefits. The event helps to highlight Realtors’ efforts to promote affordable housing opportunities for every sector of every community.

Homeownership provides a solid foundation for a thriving community, Kowalski says, pointing out that research supports Florida Realtors’ belief that homeownership provides a variety of benefits -- tangible and intangible -- to both the homeowner and to the community at large.

Over the years, studies have shown that people who own homes have a strong financial stake in what happens to their community and tend to become more involved in community and civic affairs. For example, recent research indicates that homeowners join up to 41 percent more civic and/or nonprofessional organizations than renters, such as the PTA or Scouts; vote in local elections 15 percent more often; and work to enhance their neighborhoods with gardens 12 percent more often.

The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its more than 125,000 members in 70 boards/associations.