Realtors Support Regional Foreclosure Prevention Programs

The ""National Association of Realtors"":http://www.realtor.org (NAR) has awarded more than $682,000 to ""25 local and state Realtor associations"":http://www.realtor.org/wps/wcm/connect/1067ab004e88f5248127c36019b6e772/Bullet+Point+Summaries+9.pdfxMOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=1067ab004e88f5248127c36019b6e772 across the country through its Foreclosure Prevention and Response grant program. The grants help Realtor boards develop and fund local foreclosure deterrence initiatives.
Funds can be used to provide consumers with foreclosure prevention information and financial counseling; educate and train local Realtors about foreclosure avoidance, short sales, and auctions; or help Realtors and their associations form partnerships and get more involved in their communities to stem foreclosures and support local neighborhood stabilization efforts.
NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, commented, ""Realtors build communities and as the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, we believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many.""
McMillan continued, ""Foreclosures affect each community differently, which is why NAR is providing the Foreclosure Prevention and Response grants directly to local and state Realtor associations - so that they can develop unique, coordinated action plans to prevent foreclosures and minimize their adverse effects on the community.""
More than $3 million is available to Realtor associations through the NAR program to help their members, clients, and communities nationwide resolve the growing foreclosure problem. All state and territorial Realtor associations are encouraged to apply for funding, NAR said. Applications are reviewed and grants awarded on an ongoing basis. Grants are available through 2010, and allotted amounts are based on membership levels.
NAR has also developed a ""Foreclosure Prevention and Response Toolkit"":http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/foreclosure_prevention/foreclosure_association_resources for local and state Realtor associations. This free online resource helps associations develop a local foreclosure response program and support the work of Realtors in the community. The toolkit includes a list of Realtor training programs, government and other grant programs available, and opportunities for strategic community involvement and best practices.