July 26, 2007

PDC Sponsors Home-Buying Fairs

Over the next four months the Portland Development Commission (PDC) will sponsor a series of four community home-buying fairs to promote home ownership opportunities. The fairs are designed especially for people of color, but anyone interested in purchasing a home is strongly encouraged to attend. At the fairs PDC staff will be on hand to answer questions about home-buyer assistance programs to help renters realize the goal of owning homes of their own. 

“Home ownership is a foundation for individual and community prosperity,” said Bruce Warner, PDC’s Executive Director. “The PDC has an array of tools in place to assist Portlanders reach the goal of owning their own homes.”

Following is a list of upcoming home-buying fairs PDC is sponsoring:

• Native American Housing to Home Ownership Fair: Saturday, July 28,
  10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Emanuel Hospital Medical Office Building Atrium,
  501 N. Graham, Portland
• Asian and Pacific Islander Home-buying Fair: Saturday, August 4,
  10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Portland Community College, Southeast Center,
  2305 SE 82nd (Corner of 82nd Avenue and Division Street), Portland
• Abriendo Puertas Home-buying Fair: Saturday, Sept. 22, noon – 5 p.m., Portland Community College, SE Center, 2305 SE 82nd (and Division), Portland
• African American Home-buying Fair: Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Emanuel Hospital Medical Office Building Atrium, 501 N. Graham, Portland

In part, the home-buying fairs are designed to address the gap in home ownership rates between whites and communities of color. According to 2005 U.S. Census figures, and data obtained by the Native American Youth and Family Services (NAYA), the gap in home ownership rates between whites and African Americans is 21 percent; for Asians it’s 1 percent; for Hispanics it’s 26 percent; for Native Americans it’s 42 percent. According to the Regional Multiple Listing Service, the median priced house in the Portland metropolitan area rose from $79,900 in 1990 to $270,500 in 2006, but this wave of wealth largely passed over people of color.

All of the events are open to the general public and free of charge. For more information about the fairs and other workshops offered by PDC, please visit www.pdc.us/housing and click on “Featured Housing Workshops and Events” or call 503-823-3400.

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