Washington, DC – March 7, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Realtors® month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour kicks off this weekend in Chicago outside of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show on Saturday, March 5. Chicagoans can speak with NAR leaders and invited local officials about the housing issues that matter to them, as well as learn about how public policy developments in Washington could affect their ability to buy, sell and own a home.
“Home ownership matters to individuals, families and communities across this country,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “This bus tour gives Realtors® a chance to interact and communicate directly with consumers about what housing issues matter most to them. We’re pleased to launch this tour in NAR’s hometown of Chicago, and we look forward to a continued dialogue about the meaning of home ownership for individual families as well as the nation’s economy as a whole.”
The NAR Home Ownership Matters Bus will be parked at the Navy Pier outside Festival Hall B from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. Attendees can register to win prizes worth up to $2,500 and can enjoy food, beverage and entertainment. NAR President-elect Moe Veissi will be available for media interviews at the event.
According to NAR’s Housing Opportunity Pulse Survey, more than three-fourths of Americans in the Central region of the U.S. – which includes Chicago – believe that buying a home is a good financial decision. More than two-thirds of those surveyed also say now is a good time to buy a home.
“The decision to become a homeowner is a very personal one, but we believe that anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream,” said Phipps.
Other major stops on the tour include Denver on March 19 and Portland, Ore., on March 26, with additional stops in cities along the way. Ongoing news and information for the tour will be posted on HouseLogic at www.houselogic.com/bus. HouseLogic is a free source of information from NAR that helps home owners maintain and enhance the value of their homes and engage in issues that affect their local communities.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.
Contact:
Stephanie Singer 202/383-1050 ssinger (at) realtors (dot) org