The National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) has awarded the Coastal Association of REALTORS^® (CAR) a $5,000 Grant through their Housing Opportunity Program. The NAR Housing Opportunity Fund supports a wide range of housing opportunity programs. Grants are awarded to associations twice a year.

The Coastal Association of REALTORS^® is one of ten associations nationally to be awarded a grant during the spring cycle. CAR will use the grant to start an out reach program to provide "CreditSmart^® Workshops" FREE of charge to community groups in Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties. The instructional program for the CreditSmart^® Workshops was developed by Freddie Mac to teach financial literacy to community groups.

The workshops will be divided into four segments of two hours each. Topics to be covered in the workshops are: goal setting, budgeting, managing credit, credit scoring, and restoring credit. Information will also be provided on local, state and federal loan programs. In addition, the Worcester County Department of Economic Development has agreed to partner with CAR to help market the program to the business community in Worcester County. They will also assist CAR in providing follow-up to participants who complete all four segments of the workshop to help get them pre-approved for a home loan.

The Maryland Association of REALTORS^® (MAR) has provided "Workforce Housing Certification Classes" to CAR in order to train the instructors for the CreditSmart^® Workshops. CAR currently has 7 teams ready to provide workshops to the community. If you are interested in scheduling a CreditSmart^® Workshop, please contact Joan Strang, Government Affairs Director, Coastal Association of REALTORS^® at 410-845-0132 or email joan@shamrockrealtygroup.com.