Whether it’s working with prospective clients who are in the market to purchase a home or with homeowners who may be struggling to protect their piece of the American dream, maximizing your business during National Homeownership Month begins with education.
“REALTORS® need to take the time to educate future buyers when it comes to understanding the steps that are necessary to be able to financially afford their piece of the American dream,” says Perron.
In fact, a Pre-Purchase Counseling Outcome Study released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2012 found that housing counseling significantly improves the likelihood that homeowners will remain in their home once the transaction has been completed. The findings reveal that 35 percent of study participants became homeowners 18 months after seeking pre-purchase counseling, underscoring the importance that education plays in the process.
And it doesn’t stop there. The National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) Home Ownership Matters campaign, which was created with the ultimate goal of preserving homeownership through advocacy and outreach to lawmakers, thought leaders and the media, is chock full of tools and resources—from brochures and videos to flyers and graphics—that state and local associations can take advantage of. NAR’s Consumer Advertising Campaign is another great benefit, allowing state and local associations to customize messaging to promote the value of homeownership as well as the benefits of working with a REALTOR® within their local communities.
