News Release

May 21, 2010

Contact:
Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360,drobinson@nw.org
Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317,ecollins@nw.org

NeighborWorks America Named a Top Home Builder by Builder Magazine
NeighborWorks Ranked #82 in its Debut on the 2009 Builder 100 List

Washington, D.C — Today NeighborWorks America announced that it was named one of the nation’s largest residential home builders, according to Builder Magazine’s 2009 Builder 100 list. NeighborWorks America debuted on the 2009 Builder 100 list at No. 82, with 302 units of for-sale housing completed by its network of local NeighborWorks organizations.

“We are excited to be recognized for the work of our homebuilding network organizations. Even in the worst housing market since the Great Depression, local nonprofits are revitalizing their communities with new affordable and green for-sale housing, and preparing homebuyers for long-term homeownership,” said Thomas P. Deyo, deputy director of National Initiatives and Applied Research at NeighborWorks America. “NeighborWorks organizations not only build homes, we build communities. ”

For over 20 years, local NeighborWorks organizations have constructed affordable for-sale homes for low- and moderate-income families in their communities. In addition to home construction, NeighborWorks organizations offer services to homebuyers that many builders don’t – homeownership education and lending – in order to help homebuyers achieve their dream: long-term, affordable homeownership.

NeighborWorks Waco, a local organization based in Waco, Texas, has constructed 180 homes in Waco and the surrounding area since 1997. In addition to building affordable homes, NeighborWorks Waco offers homeownership education to Waco homebuyers before they’ve begun their search for homes, and affordable lending products to first-time homebuyers.

“At NeighborWorks Waco, we bring the whole package together for our first-time homebuyers, and hold their hand throughout the entire process. We give them the counseling and education needed so that they can improve their credit and learn all about the home buying process. We offer affordable mortgage financing products to them, so they have access to the lowest interest rates with the best terms. We give them housing options, which include new single-family homes built in urban subdivisions or inner-city infill, both custom and speculative. Our guidance doesn’t end after closing. We pay our new homeowners to come to our hands-on post-purchase classes after their first six months of homeownership. It’s homeownership done the right way,” said Roy Nash, executive director of NeighborWorks Waco.

For more information about NeighborWorks’ homebuilding and homeownership efforts, visit www.nw.org.

For Builder Magazine’s 2009 Builder 100 list, visit http://www.builderonline.com/builder100/2009.aspx.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.