The housing inventory shortage, barriers to homeownership and rising interest rates are all currently impacting the housing industry. REALTORS® are uniquely situated to improve housing opportunities in the communities where they live and work. As it is often said, REALTORS® are boots on the ground and most times the first real estate professional the prospective home buyer or renter gets to know. This is why HAR has taken an active role in community involvement and providing the best educational opportunities to REALTORS® so they can provide the most up to date information to those who need greater access to quality, affordable home ownership and rental opportunities.
The HAR Governmental Affairs team received a grant from NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program and is hosting a housing symposium for HAR members. We also teamed up with our Professional Development department to ensure this event provides CE credit. HAR is unique in that we are not only a trade association, but we also run one of the most visited real estate websites in the country. For that reason, HAR has had a bird’s eye view of the steep increase in home values and drastic decrease in housing inventory across the state of Texas. The Southeast region of Texas took a tremendous hit after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Whether looking to rent or purchase a home, consumers are facing affordability and availability, and our goal is to bring a collective of industry experts together to see what is being done and steps forward.
The housing symposium will feature a keynote speaker and panel discussions with experts who work in the housing space. Additionally, elected officials and community stakeholders will be invited to provide further guidance and promote collaboration. Each topic discussed will address key concepts surrounding housing and affordability, including accessibility, inventory, increasing costs to build in the area, credit worthiness and homebuyer assistance programs.
This event will be member-facing with opportunities for discussion after each panel to ensure that real estate professionals in the Houston area are educated and engaged on these issues. You don’t want to miss this opportunity!
Please feel free to contact the Governmental Affairs and Advocacy Department with any questions, comments, or concerns regarding event.
