NAHREP: Educational Curriculum For Hispanic Housing Markets In 2002.

Henry G. Cisneros, former Secretary of HUD says, “The hottest business professional effort involving Latinos in the United States of America today is the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).”

According to the Homeownership Alliance, a Washington, DC-based coalition of housing-related organizations and enterprises, the U.S. Hispanic homeownership rate increased from 47.5% to 48.8% in 2001. This 1.3% increase is twice as large as white Americans and more than four times the rate of African Americans. “This accomplishment is even more remarkable when you consider that Hispanic population grew at a faster rate than any other demographic group,” said Ernest J. Reyes, NAHREP Chairman. He added, “NAHREP has worked hard to support the efforts of Hispanic real estate professionals and has been dedicated to collaborating with corporations and government to identify the unique homeownership barriers confronted by the Hispanic community in this country and has worked with them to develop viable solutions.”

NAHREP plans to build on last year’s achievements by disseminating a curriculum of professional educational courses designed to assist real estate agents and mortgage originators in serving their Hispanic clients more effectively, efficiently, and profitably. The courses will be available to individuals through a series of seminars and can be licensed to corporations that want to include the course content as part of internal sales training. The curriculum was developed in part with a grant from Freddie Mac and was created with direction from the Erlich Transcultural Consultants, in association with the NAHREP education committee.

NAHREP will host its 2002 Hispanic Marketing Conference from September 18 through September 20 in San Diego, California. The conference serves as a venue where members, corporations, and government officials can congregate to exchange ideas and discuss the latest and most relevant products. Last year’s event included general sessions, an exhibit hall, and three separate breakout tracks for real estate agents, loan originators, and corporate executives. NAR 2001 President Richard Mendenhall, former White House Chief of Staff Leon Pannetta, La Bamba director and playwright Luis Valdez, California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamonte, Century 21 “Super Agent” Marty Rodriguez, Real Trends President Steve Murray, and recently confirmed Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez joined Mr. Cisneros in addressing the crowds. Future conferences are tentatively scheduled for 2003 in Miami, 2004 in Dallas, and 2005 in New York.

“The achievement of our mission requires a collaborative effort and our partners have been invaluable,” added Reyes. NAHREP recognized Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide Home Loans, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Principle Residential Mortgage, Bank of America, Cendant Corporation and Citigroup as the associations leading supporters in 2001. NAHREP also recognized organizations such as San Diego Home Loan Counseling Center in San Diego, California; Housing for Mesa in Mesa, Arizona; APM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The Spanish Speaking Unity Council in Oakland, California; Chicanos Por La Causa in Tucson, Arizona; and the Homeownership Alliance. They are all important leaders in the effort to make homeownership a reality for more Hispanic Americans.

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) is a nonprofit trade association. The organization’s mission is to increase Hispanic homeownership rate by empowering the real estate professionals that serve Hispanic consumers.