San Diego, CA - WHAT:        

The 2012 Latino Real Estate and Advocacy Conference, hosted by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) will be held March 21-23 in Washington DC at the Four Seasons Hotel. The forum brings together the nation’s Hispanic real estate leaders to discuss the state of Hispanic homeownership, the current housing environment, increased costs and new barriers for first-time homebuyers, the impact of REO rental strategies on minority buyers and necessary regulatory changes that would promote greater access to homeownership for Hispanics and other first-time homebuyers. Hispanic real estate leaders will also release a 6-Point Plan addressing current and proposed public policy initiatives affecting first-time homebuyers. The group will also share findings from its 2011 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report.

WHO:           

Featured speakers will include HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Acting FHA Commissioner Carol Galante, Mortgage Banker’s Association CEO David Stevens, Wells Fargo Mortgage CEO Mike Heid, Housing Policy Expert Armando Falcon and other housing and business leaders. Also on hand will be NAHREP President Carmen Mercado, Co-Founder Gary Acosta, President-elect Gerardo Ascencio and NAHREP members.

WHEN:           

The general sessions here may be of interest to the media. A full agenda can be found at http://tinyurl.com/6sjyqdn.

Thursday, March 22, 2012 (Concoran Ballroom Salon A&B)
12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon: HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan will address the group

3-4:30 p.m. The State of Hispanic Homeownership: NAHREP President Carmen Mercado, Co-Founder Gary Acosta and Armando Falcon, CEO of Falcon Capital Advisors will discuss Latinos as a mega market consumer force and policy that enables them to drive the housing recovery.

 
Friday, March 23, 2012 (Concoran Ballroom Salon A&B)
9:00-10:30 a.m. Town Hall on REO to Rentals: The Long-Term Impact of Disposition Strategies on Minority Communities — The bulk of Fannie, Freddie and FHA foreclosures in the marketplace has elicited a range of solutions to address the gridlock. Movement of REO is badly needed but at what long-term cost to communities and first-time homebuyers? Speakers include: Brian Hurley, president of New Vista Asset Management, Craig Nickerson, CEO National Community Stabilization Trust; Meg Burns, Senior Associate Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency; Peter Carroll, Director of Mortgage Markets, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.–Mortgage Market Townhall: Stricter Standards, Higher Costs Create New Barriers for Minority Homebuyers –Stringent credit score requirements, higher fees due to investor pressure, rising costs of business created by new Dodd-Frank regulations all amount to formidable hurdles for new homebuyers. These conditions favor cash investors by limiting competition but threaten to lock out new homebuyers that hold the keys to community stabilization. This panel will discuss mortgage liquidity, the roles of government agencies and credit scoring practices that all but threaten homeownership. Speakers include: Mike Heid, President, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Tom Duetsch, Executive Director, American Securitization Forum; David Stevens, CEO, Mortgage Bankers Association; Carol Galante, Acting FHA Commissioner; Jason Madiedo, CEO, Venta Financial Group.

WHERE:           

Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., Washington, D.C.

General sessions are open to the media, but registration is required.