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NAREB Forms Strategic Partnerships to Serve Minority Communities

The ""National Association of Real Estate Brokers"":http://www.nareb.com/ (NAREB), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association composed of minority professionals in the real estate industry, has formed strategic partnerships with ""PartnerFirst, LLC"":http://www.partnerfirst.org/, and ""Integrated Mortgage Solutions"":http://www.imstoday.net/site/Home/Main.aspx (IMS).

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NAREB teamed up with Corona, California-based PartnerFirst to create a certified, nationwide, and multicultural short sale agent network that it says will help minority communities across America avoid foreclosure. Son Nguyen, COO for PartnerFirst said this Minority Outreach Initiative is designed to provide mortgage servicers, outsourcers, and government-sponsored entities insight and guidance in developing homeowner outreach programs that are culturally diverse and inclusive.

""The PartnerFirst and NAREB alliance offers NAREB member Realtists the opportunity to add an industry-recognized short sale certification to their toolbox that helps distressed homeowners,"" said Vincent Wimbish, NAREB's president and CEO. ""We have a special charge to work to restore and revitalize communities of color.""

In addition, NAREB has joined forces with IMS, a Houston-based provider of collateral protection resources for the mortgage servicing sector. Through this partnership, NAREB and IMS are working collectively to engage minority business as subcontractors.

According to IMS, NAREB brings a wealth of institutional knowledge on the impact of foreclosures on urban markets around the nation, working in tandem with IMS to provide valuations and short sale services to those communities. Cheryl Lang, CEO and president of IMS, said working with NAREB seemed natural because the two companies share a common interest in supporting the efforts of diverse groups nationwide.

""No single business or organization can tackle the housing crisis alone, but collectively we are making an impact,"" said LJ Jennings, president of sales for NAREB. ""It is incredibly refreshing to have a company like IMS come to the table and work with NAREB members. The partnership presents a fantastic opportunity to strengthen and utilize minority housing related companies to bring stability to our neighborhoods and industry.""