Innovative program aims to teach high school students how to purchase a home

The Spokane Association of REALTORS®, The Spokesman-Review and Fannie Mae are sponsoring a “reality program” that will teach the next generation in Spokane County how to achieve future homeownership.

The innovative teaching program called HomeWords was first created for Newspapers in Education, a consortium of publishers that develop ways to use newspapers as classroom teaching tools.

Spokane County high school curriculum administrators recently received letters about the program and how to make the class available to students. The Association hopes the school districts will adopt and implement the program in the 2004-2005 school year.

HomeWords uses a language-arts guidebook in conjunction with newspapers donated by The Spokesman-Review. It includes exercises that cover a wide range of issues related to homeownership, such as learning how credit works, developing budgets, understanding the purchasing process, building equity and taking advantage of the tax benefits of owning a home.

Frank Burger, Tomlinson Black North, chair of the REALTORS®’ Education Committee, learned about the program. The Spokesman-Review and Fannie Mae were ready, willing and able to join in the program effort.

The SAR Board of Directors unanimously and wholeheartedly supports the program which was first created by the Los Angeles Times. More than 100,000 California high school students have taken the class.

“While we know it may be many years before students consider whether they will rent or buy, having a clear picture of the steps involved now will help them make better decisions,” Burger said. “This course is a lesson in reality and achievement that is too good for students to pass up.”

Attaining the American dream of homeownership can be a reality for anyone willing to take the time to learn what’s involved in renting, buying and selling a home.

Teachers have the opportunity to help students understand and prepare for their future.