“Affordability and fair housing remain the most significant challenges confronting the real estate industry today,” 2024 NAR President Kevin Sears said earlier this year. “[REALTORS®’] mission to promote the growth of prosperous, diverse, and inclusive communities across the United States is more resilient than ever.”
The latest educational opportunity offered by the REALTOR® Party reflects this commitment to driving tangible, beneficial change in our communities.
Held in early September, the inaugural Fair & Attainable Housing Ideas Forum registration was filled within less than a week with association staff from around the country who are committed to ensuring more people of all backgrounds can achieve homeownership. The virtual work group served as a laboratory for attendees to take their ideas from initial brainstorming to concrete action.
“So much of the work of advancing fair and attainable housing happens at the state and local level,” said Hannah Dannenfelser, NAR’s Manager of Community Outreach Grants & Resources. “NAR is enthusiastic about not only advocating at the federal level but also providing expertise, grants, training, and resources to our state and local associations. They have the best understanding of their REALTOR® members and communities.”
Open to association staff of all experience levels, the Ideas Forum included a 45-minute training session followed by breakout discussions to develop ideas and receive real-time feedback. Attendees heard detailed examples of association projects launched with grant support and learned about the importance of building community partnerships to achieve their goals.
LaTasha Beal, past chair of the Oregon REALTORS® Diversity Committee, shared about the fair housing summits her association has held in collaboration with local stakeholders for three years. Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors® CEO Amanda Lankerd described how her association has collaborated with other community leaders to lay the groundwork for a housing equity plan for the area.
NAR fair housing policy experts Alexia Smokler and Colette Massengale joined Dannenfelser to present the large portfolio of NAR resources available to associations, from the Bias Override course to Diversity & Inclusion, Fair Housing, and Housing Opportunity grants, to help bring their ideas to life. Nia Duggins, NAR’s Senior Policy Representative on Business Issues, presented NAR’s brand new Pathways to Homeownership landing page which is packed with resources aimed at expanding housing opportunities. NAR’s Diversity & Inclusion and Community Outreach teams were involved in the program as well, with Krystal Allen, Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Christine Windle, Director of Community Outreach serving as breakout room facilitators.
When asked for their reflections at the close of the session, attendees raved about the volume of programs and support available through NAR. Registration for the Ideas Forum reached capacity in less than a week, leading the NAR team to examine ways to expand availability for future sessions. The next Forum will tentatively be held in early 2025.
“Through the Ideas Forum, we can support the full REALTOR® community as we work together to make the dream of homeownership accessible across the country,” Dannenfelser said.
The full recording of the inaugural Fair & Attainable Housing Ideas Forum is available here. If you were unable to attend but would like to start exploring these opportunities, visit NAR’s new Pathways to Homeownership page and the REALTOR® Party website for more information.
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