By taking two information-packed classes next month, you’ll expand your expertise and your market!  You’ll learn to better serve our community’s vital workforce families and our fast-growing, ever more diverse cultural market.  For the last time before summer, the classes have been scheduled once again due to popular demand -- they're coming up on March 10 and 16.

Moderate-income working families now make up the fastest growing segment of the population who face challenges to entering the housing market.  Well-employed families – our teachers, firefighters, police officers and many more including immigrants and minorities – increasingly encounter difficulties buying their first home. You are in a unique position to participate in effective solutions to help those whose housing needs have been underserved and you’ll simultaneously increase your expertise and knowledge of our industry. 

If you haven't gotten involved in the Workforce Housing Opportunity program yet, you’ll want to know about the certification classes next month on March 10 and 16.  Click here to go to the KCRAR Education Calendar where the classes are listed.

Earning the Workforce Housing Specialist certification is a two-step process.  The first step is completion of a CE class called “Housing for America’s Workforce – Part 1, Financing.”  It’s being offered next week on Thursday March 10. This class is taught by Sandra Goodwin, the extremely knowledgeable Director of Fannie Mae in Kansas City.  She will help you learn about the challenges for the typical family to locate financing and appropriate housing.  You’ll also learn what resources and opportunities are available in our area, including the financing programs for moderate-income families.

This class is required for the Workforce Housing Specialist certification, but anyone may attend for the education and / or CE credit.  The usual CE fee of $30 does not apply because CE fees are on Holiday in 2005.

To earn the certification, you’ll need to move on and take a second course called “Housing for America’s Workforce – Part II.”  It’s being offered on Wednesday, March 16.  This class, conducted by veteran REALTORS® from the Workforce Housing Committee, will show you how to utilize www.kchomeprograms.com to stay current on the financing programs, how to market your new services to the community, and ultimately increase your ability to provide excellent service to this niche.  You must pass a test at the conclusion, and the $120 fee will include your continued certification through December 2006.

After earning the Workforce Housing Specialist certification, you will be listed in the counties of your choice on www.kchomeprograms.com.   The cornerstone of our program is this comprehensive central-information website that enables consumers to learn about the many innovative programs available throughout Kansas City and the surrounding areas.  Site visitors are able to enter their desired location, income and household size in order to search for down payment assistance programs – and they’re able to contact the WHS-certified REALTORS^® who serve their area.  Promotion for www.kchomeprograms.com is ongoing, beginning last September with newspaper, radio and TV coverage of the site’s launch.

To enroll online, simply click here or click the following link to get an enrollment form for faxing: Enrollment form for KCRAR Members and area non-members.