The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) kicked off Stabilizing and Revitalizing Neighborhoods in the COVID-19 Era, a four-part webinar series designed to explore the partnership between REALTORS® and local government officials in prevention of property vacancy and abandonment. NAR is encouraging REALTOR® leaders, association executives and policymakers—particularly those in regions already impacted by vacancy issues—to attend the sessions, which began on Aug. 11 and run through Sept. 8.
Tuesday’s webinar, Market Fundamentals to Address Property Vacancy, will highlight systems that affect vacancy and abandonment and early intervention strategies that can be employed as communities navigate the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
“As the nation grapples with the economic fallout of this pandemic alongside a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address inequity and injustice in our society, REALTORS® have been instrumental in helping our neighborhoods move forward while emphasizing that a better future begins with stable communities and equal access to housing for all Americans,” said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, Calif. “NAR recently introduced a Community Rebuilding Grant program that positioned our members to lead rehabilitation initiatives necessitated by this spring’s racial injustice demonstrations. This webinar series is another illustration of NAR’s commitment to ensuring REALTORS® lead the conversations that address our communities’ most challenging problems.”
The series is part of NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods program, which offers REALTORS®—alongside local community partners—the opportunity to comprehensively explore the underlying factors keeping vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties “stuck” in decline while examining ways to rehabilitate buildings and create more vibrant communities. The program and webinar series are part of a collaboration with the Center for Community Progress whose mission is to foster strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties become assets for neighbors and neighborhoods.
For more information, please visit www.nar.realtor.