Contact:

Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2314
JeffZ@far.org

Marla Martin, Communications Manager
407/438-1400, ext. 2326
MarlaM@far.org

Florida Association of Realtors® Celebrates American Home Week

ORLANDO, Fla., April 2004 -- Florida Realtors® agree with Dorothy in the movie classic, “The Wizard of Oz”: “There’s no place like home.” And, to help celebrate that sentiment and promote homeownership, the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) encourages residents across the state to commemorate American Home Week 2004, April 18-24.

“For many Floridians, buying a home may be the best and biggest investment they will ever make, and not just in a financial sense, because our homes are the places where we raise our children, where we live and love and realize our dreams for the future,” says 2004 FAR President Russell Grooms. “Homeownership helps to provide stability and financial security for many families. The percentage of Americans who own their homes was 66.2 percent nationwide and a terrific 70.1 percent in Florida in 2000. American Home Week is a timely reminder of the importance of providing homeownership opportunities to all citizens.”

Throughout Florida and around the nation, many local Realtor boards and associations celebrate American Home Week with various activities that help raise the public’s awareness of the importance of homeownership and its benefits. The event helps to highlight Realtors’ efforts to promote affordable housing opportunities for every sector of every community.

Homeownership provides a solid foundation for a thriving community, Grooms says, noting that research supports Florida Realtors’ belief that homeownership provides a variety of benefits -- tangible and intangible -- to both the homeowner and to the community at large.

Over the years, studies have shown that people who own homes have a strong financial stake in what happens to their community and tend to become more involved in community and civic affairs. Homeowners also may interact more with their neighbors to gain wider influence over their neighborhoods and communities.

Last year, a nationwide study published in the journal “Real Estate Economics” found that home-owning parents’ children do better in school and even have fewer behavioral problems. The study showed that for children living in owned homes rather than rental units, math achievement scores were up to 9 percent higher, reading achievement up to 7 percent higher and behavioral problems 1 to 3 percent lower. The greater stability of homeowners also was found to be good for children’s development, according to the report.

The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 100,000 members in 70 boards/associations.

© 2004 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS