| Six U.S. cities have been recognized as the best | | | | serve. |
| places for increasing affordable housing by the | | | | 3. Boulder, Colorado and the Boulder Area Realtor |
| National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the United | | | | Association |
| States Conference of Mayors. The selected cities | | | | The Southern Lights program involves building two |
| receive recognition for the innovations made in | | | | duplexes that will house two families each. This |
| housing, improvements in housing opportunities and | | | | realtor association provides funds and a minimum of |
| increased affordability. | | | | 800 volunteer hours toward the construction of the |
| Launched in 2004, the 'Ambassadors for Cities' | | | | homes. |
| program envisages the development of housing | | | | 4. Jacksonville, Florida and the Northeast Florida |
| opportunities and homeownership in communities | | | | Association of Realtors |
| every year, through improved collaborations between | | | | This association endeavors to enhance housing for |
| local city governments and realtor associations. The | | | | employees of local businesses through their employer |
| program has so far honored 19 cities in the U.S. and | | | | assisted housing (EAH) programs. Besides this, the |
| has granted up to $95,000 towards affordable | | | | realtors will also receive training to use this "Home |
| housing initiatives. | | | | from Work" program so as to assist local businesses |
| For this current year, six cities have been selected as | | | | set up their own EAH programs. |
| the 2007 Ambassador Cities. They are: | | | | 5. Miami, Florida and the Realtor Association of |
| 1. Fort Smith, Arkansas and the Fort Smith Board of | | | | Greater Miami and the Beaches |
| Realtors | | | | This city envisages building a virtual housing center to |
| The City of Forth Smith Homebuyers Assistance | | | | connect renters with affordable rental units and |
| Program offers participants a well-defined education | | | | home buyers with home sellers. The association's |
| in credit counseling and mortgage readiness and also | | | | multi-language website and home listings will be linked |
| a five-week financial fitness course on budgeting, | | | | to the Housing Central website. An educational |
| money management, credit and avoiding predatory | | | | program for realtors on various funding incentives for |
| lending. Over 200 families have purchased a home | | | | buyers and renters is also on the anvil. |
| since 1997, as a result of the program. | | | | 6. Durham, North Carolina and the Durham Regional |
| 2. San Diego, California and the San Diego Association | | | | Association of Realtors |
| of Realtors | | | | An annual training on the Durham's homeownership |
| The 'Back the Blue' Program specially designed for | | | | programs is being held every year since 1997 for |
| police officers provides them an interest rate "buy | | | | realtors. Those who complete the training program |
| down". The program aims to bring down the monthly | | | | are placed on Durham's realtor referral list. Potential |
| mortgage payments of the officers thereby helping | | | | home buyers are highly benefited by this |
| them to purchase homes in the communities they | | | | homeownership program. |