Branstad/Reynolds Administration Encourages Participation in "The Meaning of Homeownership Contest" Hosted by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Association of Realtors®

Press Release

The Branstad/Reynolds Administration today announced an innovative summer social media contest presented by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Association of Realtors®. "The Meaning of Homeownership" contest asks all Iowa mortgage lenders and Realtors® to ask their clients for their help in redefining what homeownership truly means to them. Participants will be asked to write a word or short phrase that best describes homeownership on a memo board and the participating lender or Realtor® will upload photos of the entries to the Iowa Finance Authority for inclusion in the statewide contest.

Contest entries will be voted on by the public in July at Facebook.com/IowaFinance. The entry with the most votes will receive a $1,500 gift card and the lender and Realtor® or real estate agent with the most combined votes will each receive a $2,500 community betterment grant. Any Iowa lender, Realtor® or real estate agent may sign-up to participate, and is encouraged to do so by visiting IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/Contest. The contest and competition will be detailed on Iowa Finance Authority's facebook, foursquare, twitter and youtube pages.

"I commend the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Association of Realtors® for joining together on this unique collaboration this summer to increase awareness of the benefits of homeownership in Iowa as well as the affordable mortgage and down payment assistance programs available to them through the Iowa Finance Authority to help Iowans achieve their goals," said Governor Branstad. "Iowa has one of the highest homeownership rates in the nation, which is a tremendous benefit to our state as affordable homeownership is one of the single most effective tools for stability for Iowans and their families."

"The Iowa Finance Authority's partnerships with Realtors®, real estate agents and lenders throughout the state have been central to our success in assisting nearly 60,000 Iowans on their road to homeownership," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "We're excited to be offering this summer contest in partnership with the Iowa Association of Realtors® as a fun way to increase awareness of the Iowa Finance Authority's homeownership programs offered through more than 400 local lender locations throughout the state so that we may assist even more Iowans in meeting their homeownership goals."

"More than 31,000 Iowans purchased a home last year, a slight increase from 2010 and I'm confident that partnerships amongst Iowa housing organizations and professionals -- like the one between the Iowa Association of Realtors® and the Iowa Finance Authority will assist in keeping that growth pattern," said Iowa Association of Realtors® CEO Dave Bert.

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