National Association of REALTORS® Employer-Assisted Housing  A Presentation to (insert name of employer/organization/community) Customize this title slide with the name of the employer, organization, or community to whom you are providing the presentation.

National Association of REALTORS® Outline What is Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH)? The Benefits of EAH Key Types of EAH Our EAH Team Implementing an EAH Benefit This slide presents the outline for this presentation. Say: Let me briefly outline the topics we will cover in today’s presentation. First, we will define what employer-assisted housing, or EAH, is. Next, we will review the benefits of EAH to employers, employees, and the community. Then we will provide a description of the three key types of EAH benefits. I will provide you some information on the EAH team that partners with me, and we will conclude by summarizing the steps to implementing an EAH benefit.

What is Employer-Assisted Housing? National Association of REALTORS® What is Employer-Assisted Housing? Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) is a benefit offered by employers that can help employees move beyond the most common hurdles to homeownership, enabling them to purchase (or rent) a home in the community in which they work. Employer-Assisted Housing helps employers achieve business goals while at the same time helping employees meet their housing needs. This slide defines employer-assisted housing.   Say: Let’s start by defining employer-assisted housing. Employer-assisted housing helps employers achieve business goals while at the same time helping employees meet their housing needs. Note the phrase “helping the employer achieve business goals.” This definition emphasizes the benefits to the employer. Employer-assisted housing is a benefit offered by an employer to help employees to move beyond the most common hurdles to homeownership, enabling them to purchase or rent a home in the community in which they work.

EAH Benefits to an Employer National Association of REALTORS® EAH Benefits to an Employer Retain existing employees and reduce turnover Recruit new employees Increase productivity Improve staff morale Enhance employees’ work-life balance Decrease absenteeism Reduce stress in employees concerned about losing their home Build staff loyalty Produce a positive return on investment The next two slides discuss the benefits of employer-assisted housing to the employer.   Say: Now let’s discuss how an employer benefits from employer-assisted housing. Employer-assisted housing can help an employer recruit new employees and retain existing ones. Employer-assisted housing can also increase productivity through improved morale, an enhanced employee work-life balance, and decreased absenteeism. Education benefits can help address the stress some employees may feel if they have concerns about losing their homes. Employees who receive employer-assisted housing benefits tend to be more loyal to the employer. This helps retain the employee, especially if combined with a requirement that the employee needs to stay with the employer for a certain number of years. Employer-assisted housing benefits can also provide a positive return to the company’s bottom line. EAH can often be implemented at little or no cost to the employer, yet the employer reaps the benefits of a more productive work force, lower employee turnover, and a greater ability to attract new employees. (continues)

EAH Benefits to an Employer (con’t.) National Association of REALTORS® EAH Benefits to an Employer (con’t.) Build organization value and reputation Generate positive publicity Create goodwill in the community Contribute to the stability and revitalization of the nearby neighborhoods <continuing from prior slide> Implementing an EAH benefit can help employers build value within their organizations and enhance their reputations. Employer-assisted housing benefits can also generate positive publicity for the employer and create goodwill in a community. Employer-assisted housing can help set a company apart in the community and in the minds of customers. Employers that offer employer-assisted housing are typically seen as trendsetters and socially responsible organizations. This benefit helps position them as attractive places to work.   Employer-assisted housing benefits can also be used as part of a program to help stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods close to the workplace.

EAH Benefits to Employees National Association of REALTORS® EAH Benefits to Employees Overcome homeownership barriers Improve knowledge of the homebuying process and homeownership concerns Secure financial assistance for a home purchase Enhance quality of life Reduce commutes Increase family time Reduce stress Increase wealth-building and equity appreciation opportunities through homeownership This slide discusses the benefits of employer-assisted housing to the employees. This slide is optional. Include this slide for group presentations where you believe the audience is interested in the benefits of EAH to the employees.   Say: Employer-assisted housing benefits the employees as well. EAH can help employees overcome some of the homeownership barriers we previously discussed. First, the employees often receive homebuyer and homeownership education and counseling services as part of an employer-assisted housing benefit. This allows them to better understand the homebuying process, provides confidence them the confidence to purchase a home, and better prepares them to purchase and maintain a home. Additionally, many employer-assisted housing benefits offer financial assistance to the employee, which can help close the financing gap on a home purchase. In many instances, employer-assisted housing benefits are designed to encourage employees to live in the community in which they work. This allows employees to spend less time commuting and more time at home with their families, thus enhancing their quality of life. Finally, employees who purchase homes have the opportunity for equity appreciation as their home value increases.

EAH Benefits to the Community National Association of REALTORS® EAH Benefits to the Community Attracts and keeps a local workforce with an investment in the community Ensures that critical workers and emergency responders live nearby Reduces traffic and air pollution Assists with community economic goals Stabilizes and revitalizes the community Increases population Increases the tax base This slide discusses the benefits of employer-assisted housing to the community. Say: Communities can also benefit when employers offer employer-assisted housing.   First, employer-assisted housing often allows workers to live and work in the same community. People who live and work in the same location tend to become invested in the community and become more active in civic and volunteer activities. Second, employer-assisted housing benefits allow critical workers and emergency responders, such as police, fire, and medical personnel, to purchase homes in the communities where they work. They do not have to travel great distances to respond to an emergency. Employees living and working nearby means less commuting. In turn, that equals less traffic congestion and less air pollution. Employees who live nearby will spend more money nearby, supporting local merchants and adding to the community’s economic vitality. Finally, as communities are revitalized, the base of the community will stabilize, the population will increase, and the community tax base will increase.

Key Types of EAH Benefits National Association of REALTORS® Key Types of EAH Benefits Homebuyer and homeownership education Homebuyer workshops Foreclosure assistance workshops One-on-one counseling Financial assistance This slide introduces the three key types of employer-assisted housing benefits that this class focuses on: homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling and financial assistance. These programs are described in more detail on the followings slides.   Say: There are three key types of employer-assisted housing benefits that this class will focus on: Homebuyer and homeownership education, including homebuyer and foreclosure assistance workshops One-on-one counseling Financial assistance We will discuss each of these on the slides that follow.

National Association of REALTORS® Homebuyer Workshop Key subjects that can be addressed: The homebuying process Determining how much you can afford Saving for a downpayment and closing costs Budgeting Improving your credit position Obtaining mortgage financing Homeownership responsibilities Selecting real estate professionals This slide discusses the information typically provided in a homebuyer workshop   Say: Offering a series of homebuyer workshops is a great way to provide information about the homebuying process to employees and other prospective home purchasers. Homebuyer workshops typically discuss how to select a real estate professional and other team members. They also offer information on the financial aspects of homebuying, such as determining how much you can afford, how to improve your credit position, and how to obtain a mortgage. These workshops may also include information on budgeting and saving for a downpayment and closing costs, homeownership responsibilities, and what to expect during the homebuying process.

Foreclosure Assistance Workshop National Association of REALTORS® Foreclosure Assistance Workshop Key subjects that can be addressed: Federal foreclosure assistance programs Working with your lender How to find a foreclosure counselor Nonprofit resources Assistance programs Counseling Ineffective programs and scams This slide discusses the foreclosure assistance workshops. Say: Homeownership education programs can include foreclosure assistance workshops, which provide valuable information to families facing financial difficulty. The information might help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Workshop topics might include information on the federal government’s foreclosure response programs and on working with the lender. Additionally, they can provide access to local nonprofit assistance resources, including how to find a foreclosure counselor using a site such as Neighborworks Find a Foreclosure Counselor (www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org). Additionally, the workshop can provide information on ineffective foreclosure assistance programs and scams. 10

One-on-One Counseling National Association of REALTORS® One-on-One Counseling A review of an employee’s individual situation Consultation on private issues Credit problems Financial matters Foreclosure Advice and recommendations specific to the employee’s situation Typically provided by a nonprofit organization This slide provides an overview of what is covered in one-on-one counseling.   Say: One-on-one counseling is often offered following the workshops. This option gives employees the opportunity to discuss their individual situations with a counselor in a private setting. Employees may consult with a counselor on past credit issues, their current credit situation, and their current financial situation. The counselor will offer specific advice and recommendations based on each employee’s situation. One outcome of the counseling session should be an employee who is prepared both financially and emotionally for the homebuying process. 11

Homeownership Education and Counseling National Association of REALTORS® Homeownership Education and Counseling Educational workshops and one-on-one counseling programs are good starting points. Usually inexpensive to implement Can demonstrate immediate benefit to an employer through increased productivity and loyalty May generate immediate positive publicity about an employer This slide discusses why educational workshops and one-on-one counseling programs are good first steps.   Say: Educational workshops and one-on-one counseling programs can constitute Phase One of an employer-assisted housing benefit. Because these programs are easy and inexpensive to implement, the employer doesn’t need to make a significant financial investment. Financial assistance benefits can be added later. These programs can demonstrate the benefits to the employer as well as generate positive publicity. Ultimately, offering these programs enables the employer to experience the benefits of EAH before moving to the financial assistance programs. 12

National Association of REALTORS® Financial Assistance Helps employees overcome a financial barrier to homeownership Financial assistance is typically used for: Downpayment assistance Closing costs Employer financial assistance can include: Financial Loans Grants Matched savings The EAH team can provide access to federal, state, and local sources of financial assistance that can be leveraged with employer benefit Financial assistance benefits can be structured to assist with employee retention and recruitment and/or other business goals This slide identifies the basic types of financial assistance benefits employers provide.   Say: Now let’s talk a bit about financial assistance benefits. Financial assistance benefits may help employees overcome a financial barrier to homeownership, such as funds for downpayments and closing costs. These benefits typically provide the additional funds that employees with financial restraints need to purchase a home. The basic types of EAH financial assistance benefits are loans, grants, and matched savings accounts, all of which require a financial commitment from the employer. Employers may be reluctant, particularly at first, to provide actual monetary financial assistance. Even if the employer is not providing financial assistance, the EAH team can provide employees with information (via the workshops) on where to find out about financial assistance available through other sources (city, state, nonprofit programs, and so forth). The employer can always add a financial assistance benefit at a later time. Finally, financial assistance benefits can be structured to assist with employee retention and recruitment, using such techniques as targeting the assistance to high turnover positions or jobs that are hard to fill. 13

National Association of REALTORS® Our EAH Team Team Expertise Lending and financial expertise Financial assistance resources information Homeownership education and workshop assistance Foreclosure prevention assistance Counseling services EAH benefit plan administration Team Members (Identify real estate professionals) (Identify lender partner) (Identify nonprofit partner) (Identify other team members) Customize this slide to identify the members of your team and the expertise they can provide.   Say: We have created an EAH team that brings together experts from several different areas to assist in the development and implementation of an employer-assisted housing benefit. Our team includes individuals and organizations with expertise in the homebuying process, experts in lending and finance, and those familiar with financial assistance sources. The team can provide homeownership and homebuyer education, financial literacy education, counseling services, and administration of an employer-assisted housing benefit. The team also is able to assist in the foreclosure prevention process, including foreclosure assistance workshops. 14

Implementing an EAH Benefit National Association of REALTORS® Implementing an EAH Benefit Identify employer goals that an EAH benefit can address Conduct needs assessment Employee housing needs survey Conduct cost/benefit analysis Based on lower turnover costs Identify EAH benefits to implement (EAH Team can meet with employer) Review EAH Step-by-Step Guide Work with EAH Team to Implement an EAH benefit Evaluate EAH program This slide discusses the steps an employer should take to implement an EAH program. Say: The employer needs to see how EAH can help meet some business goals. The employer can conduct a needs assessment to document goals such as recruitment and retention, greater staff loyalty, or positive publicity. Many employers offer work-life benefits to help employees deal with life demands that can impact their work. If, for example, employees worry about their ability to purchase a home, offering a homebuyer workshop or one-on-one counseling may ease their concerns. If an employer has retention needs, it may want to offer a financial benefit with a requirement that the employee must stay at the company for a set amount of years. The employer can assess the needs of employees using a tool such as a homeowernship survey. This will provide information on current housing needs and will help determine how many employees might participate in an EAH benefit. The Step-by-Step Guide includes an example of a survey. If the survey shows that most employees already own a home, the employer might want to provide a workshop on home maintenance or foreclosure prevention. A cost/benefit analysis (CBA) should be done if the employer is considering a financial benefit. It will help the employer understand how much of an EAH benefit to offer based on lower turnover costs. The CBA should include the employer size, employees’ salaries, recruitment expenses, and turnover rate. The concept of the cost/benefit analysis is simple: Employee turnover and lost productivity cost the company money. If the employer can reduce turnover and increase productivity through an employer-assisted housing benefit, the company can save money. The Step-by-Step Guide includes a CBA worksheet Employers and human resource departments are often familiar with turnover costs, including the often high costs of training new employees. An EAH benefit might help decrease these costs for the employer. After these steps are taken, the employer can select and implement an EAH benefit. The information in the Step-By-Step Guide can be used to assist in this process. The final step is to set up a process to measure and evaluate the program’s success. 15

Contact EAH Team Members National Association of REALTORS® Contact EAH Team Members (Presenter should customize this slide with the names, phone numbers, and e-mails of the team members) Mary Smith Appleblossom Realty, Snowshoe, VT (987) 654-3210 Msmith@appleblossomrealty.com John Jones, CLU Mountain County Consumer Assistance League, Snowshoe, VT (987) 123-4567 jjones@MCCAL.org Pat Answer Worldwilde Capital Corp., Whitewater Rapids, VT (666) 555-4321 Pans@Worldcap.com Remember to customize this slide with the names, phone numbers, and e-mails of the team members. 16