http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/07 ... 6hh903.htm

Realtors reach out to immigrant markets with home buying and selling brochure

WALTHAM -- As part of its commitment to promoting equal opportunity in housing for all Bay State residents, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) has recently published its popular pamphlet, A Consumer Guide to Buying & Selling a Home in Massachusetts, in 10 different foreign languages. The brochure, which is being made available jointly by MAR and the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation, is designed to demystify the home purchase and sale processes and will allow real estate agents to more effectively communicate with the state's immigrant population.
First produced as an English language brochure in 2002, the 12-page Consumer Guide to Buying & Selling a Home in Massachusetts is now available in Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. The informational pamphlet explains agency relationships and the role and duties of the real estate agent, buyer's and seller's rights and responsibilities, and the process by which homes are marketed and sold, making it an especially useful resource for first-time buyers and others unfamiliar with the property transaction process in the U.S.
Development of the home buying and selling brochure in multiple foreign languages comes as a direct result of steady gains in the state's minority and immigrant populations, according to MAR officials. In 2004, 12 percent of all Bay State home buyers were minorities, up from 7 percent the year before, data from the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers report shows. The increase among first-time buyers was even greater, as those who identified themselves as African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander rose from 7.5 percent in 2003 to 19 percent this past year. Moreover, data from the U.S. Census shows that 40 percent of Massachusetts' foreign-born population has entered the state since 1990.
"The process of buying or selling a home can be a complex, and at times, cumbersome one, that can be made even more challenging if communication barriers are involved. These pamphlets will allow our industry to better serve multicultural buyers by educating them about the property transaction process in their native language," MAR President Maggie Tomkiewicz said.
Consumers can request a complimentary copy of the brochure, A Consumer Guide to Buying & Selling a Home in Massachusetts, by calling MAR at (781) 890-3700 or the state's Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation at (88 283-3757. Brochures also may be viewed in all 11 languages on-line at www.marealtor.com and www.state.ma.us/consumer. The brochures also are available for purchase by real estate agents and brokers in packs of 25 for $15.95 each or buy a three-pack (same or multiple languages) for $45.

This story appeared on Page T6 of The Standard-Times on July 2, 2005.