Media Center - Florida Realtors®

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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 June As National Homeownership Month

ORLANDO, Fla., June 2004 -- The pathway to homeownership should be an easy route to travel, according to Florida Realtors® and the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). Therefore, Realtors across the state and throughout the U.S. are joining forces to promote housing opportunities and the removal of homeownership barriers in recognition of June 2004 as National Homeownership Month.

“As Realtors, we're privileged to be the group working to make the American Dream of homeownership available to all comers,” says 2004 FAR President Russell Grooms. “Homeownership provides a family with security and stability, while serving as the best investment -- financially and emotionally -- that they're likely to make in their lifetime.”

For the third year, Pres. George W. Bush has designated the month of June as a time to promote homeownership as a cornerstone of democracy and economic strength and to increase the ranks of homeowners, especially among minorities. The White House has challenged public and private entities to work together to boost homeownership by 5.5 million homeowners by 2010. According to the Fannie Mae Foundation's analysis of U.S. Census data, the overall U.S. homeownership rate remained at a record 68.6 percent in the first quarter of 2004.

“Realtors are especially adept at finding ways to bring homeownership to minority families, women-headed households, new American families and other communities where homeownership rates are below 50 percent,” says Walt McDonald, 2004 president of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). “The strength of the housing market increases Realtors’ responsibility in making our communities better places in which to live.”

Homeownership provides a solid foundation for a thriving community, Grooms says, noting that research on homeownership supports Realtors’ belief that homeownership provides a variety of benefits -- tangible and intangible -- to the community, the economy and the individual homeowner. For instance, research indicates that homeowners are voters, and that they volunteer for political and charitable causes more frequently than renters do. Also, children whose parents own their own home tend to do better in school and to be better behaved; the greater stability of homeownership also has been found to be good for child development, according to recent studies.

As part of Homeownership Month, Realtors are sponsoring activities such as property improvements to aid the needy, essay contests centering on the theme of homeownership, financial counseling, homebuyer fairs and neighborhood revitalization initiatives, to name just a few of the events going on nationwide. To encourage involvement, NAR is offering a promotional kit called “It's Good to Get Home!” to members. The tools provided in the kit are designed to help people examine what the concept of home means to them and to highlight the Realtor’s role in expanding homeownership opportunities. For more information, Realtors can go to www.realtor.org/homeownership.

The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 100,000 members in 70 boards/associations.