With Fair Housing and Housing Opportunity Grants from the REALTOR® Party, the Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS® has been steadily raising awareness of housing discrimination, and improving homeownership accessibility to historically underprivileged groups. Its latest effort brought authors Leah Rothstein and Sheryll Cashin to join a panel on racial…...
First-Time Homebuyers Savings Legislation Passes in Michigan, with a Boost from Michigan REALTORS® and the REALTOR® Party
It took some patience – and a change of governor – but Michigan REALTORS® is finally seeing its advocacy efforts pay off with the recent passage of legislation to assist first-time homebuyers, who can now prepare for the purchase with two new long-term savings features: tax-free savings accounts and income…...
Traverse Area REALTORS® Develop Grassroots Network of Housing Advocates in Northwest Michigan
For years, the Traverse Area REALTORS® have worked to build coalitions focused on developing much-needed workforce housing. With the support of Housing Opportunity Grants, it is now participating in an ambitious campaign that will create a network of engaged, informed grassroots housing advocates in neighborhoods throughout the region. ...
Data from Traverse REALTORS® Proves Invaluable to Downtown Development Planning for Affordable Housing
In Traverse City, Michigan’s desirable downtown neighborhoods, affordable housing is scarce, and the land base is already largely built. With a Smart Growth Action Grant, the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS® engaged a consulting firm to create a 3D economic model demonstrating the potential tax revenue from various development configurations…...
Greater Lansing REALTORS® Help Elect a City Council Candidate for Much-Needed Change
East Lansing, Michigan, home of Michigan State University, is a town with serious budget troubles. Escalating legacy costs had been kicked down the road for years, explains Mark Dickens, Vice President of Policy and Operations at the 1,000-member Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS® (GLAR), adding that the City Council, mired…...