CitizensNet Banner

April 15, 2009

Houston Receives "Ambassador" Designation by Realtors, Mayors for Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities

Join Mayor Bill White as he accepts the Ambassador award from the National Association of Realtors at a public event to be held in the Sunnyside community at 8415 Grandview on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 4:00 pm.

Houston, Texas, has been designated as a 2009 Ambassador City by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The goal of the Ambassador for Cities program is to highlight successful private and public partnerships that will serve as models to other communities.

Houston HOPE Homes and the Houston Association of Realtors®

The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) has partnered with the City of Houston and Houston HOPE Homes to increase RealtorR and consumer awareness of the city's down payment assistance programs, which offers up to $37,500 to qualified individuals who purchase homes below a set price in one of nine Houston HOPE neighborhoods currently undergoing revitalization. HAR created a map-based search engine, available on both the Houston HOPE Web site and www.HAR.com, to help consumers search listings easily in the Houston HOPE neighborhoods.

 "RealtorsR build communities and are committed to promoting safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities," said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. "The five cities receiving the Ambassador for Cities designation this year should be commended for forming strategic partnerships with their mayors and local governments as well as public, private and nonprofit organizations to help create and maintain affordable housing in their communities.