America's Homeowner Alliance announced it is officially open for membership. The first of its kind in the United States, the alliance is being launched by a team of industry veterans and an advisory board of housing industry professionals, along with prominent consumer groups and fair housing organizations. The Alliance has been formed to serve as the voice for the nation's 75 million existing homeowners as well as for aspiring homeowners. In addition to advocacy, the organization offers extensive member benefits and resources to assist in successful homeownership.
The mission of the Alliance is to protect and promote sustainable homeownership for all segments of America. The organization will analyze, educate, and involve the homeowners of America on major issues impacting sustainable homeownership by providing analyses and advocacy. America's Homeowner Alliance is a nonpartisan organization structured similarly to the AARP.
Alliance Chairman and Founder Phil Bracken said: "In terms of public policy, America's homeowners have never had a collective voice of their own to promote their best interests. It's time to take America's homeowners off the menu and give them a seat at the table."
"My colleagues and I are thrilled to formally launch America's Homeowner Alliance today after over more than two years of planning. The Alliance fills the need for representation on behalf of homeowners across the country who have never before had an advocate dedicated to their interests."
Phil Bracken is a more-than-35-year industry veteran of the housing industry. He is a recipient of the Eagle Award from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the Founders Award from the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and the "Andrew Woodward Distinguished Service Award," the highest honor an individual can receive from his or her fellow members of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. Tino Diaz, former chairman of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), will serve as the Alliance's president. Former Director of the Office of Federal Housing Oversight, (OFHEO) Armando Falcon and former president of Ginnie Mae, Joe Murin, are among the Alliance's Advisory board members.
The Alliance will provide consumer benefits in addition to policy dissemination to its dues-paying members. Member homeowners will receive access to a rewards purchasing program with more than 1,000 retail outlets, including Home Depot, Lowes and Sears. Dues are currently $20 per year.
"We will focus on examining the policies of both government and private entities so that we can serve as an 'ombudsman' for homeowners, providing protection from abusive or bad practices in the marketplace. And as an added bonus, Alliance members will have the opportunity to enjoy retail and rewards-based purchasing benefits providing discounts on everyday products that are important to homeowners," said Tino Diaz, Alliance president.
Immediate goals of America's Homeowner Alliance include:
►Defending the Mortgage Interest Deduction
►Preserving the Low Downpayment Mortgage
►Maintaining Availability of The 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage
►Protecting Consumers from Excess Cost and Less Available Mortgage Financing
►Reducing Government Dominance of Mortgage Credit/ Encouraging More Private Capital
►Addressing the Lack of New Home Construction Lending
►Protecting Home Values
"With the support, encouragement and endorsement of individual homeowners, assistance from major consumer groups, diverse segment real estate groups and many other organizations, America's Homeowner Alliance has launched today to serve as the profound voice for sustainable homeownership and will continue to do so for years to come," concluded Bracken.
