Forum is the premier conference for housing professionals in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – March 29, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Housing professionals in Pennsylvania are encouraged to attend this year’s Commonwealth Housing Forum planned for May 2-3 at the Hilton Harrisburg. This year’s forum has been expanded and enhanced to offer more educational and networking opportunities for people working in multifamily and single-family housing in the state. The forum is presented every two years by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
“This year’s forum has many new features we think attendees will enjoy and appreciate,” said Brian A. Hudson Sr., executive director and CEO at PHFA. “For housing professionals who haven’t attended our conference in the past, this really is the housing event of the year that they don’t want to miss.”
While some conferences offer one or two keynote speakers, the Housing Forum offers three nationally recognized plenary speakers. They include: Dr. Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody’s Analytics; Joseph Smith, monitor for the National Mortgage Settlement; and Alan Heavens, veteran residential real estate reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In addition to these exceptional keynote speakers, this year’s forum offers the most educational sessions ever at 33. Topics to be covered include: funding for construction of multifamily housing; new state and federal policy changes impacting residential construction and financing; legal issues affecting today’s housing professionals; and some of the latest findings from current housing research studies.
Educational opportunities will continue during an evening networking event planned for May 2. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and live jazz will set a relaxing atmosphere for attendees to meet with the day’s speakers and interact with peers. The food at the networking event, and all three meals during the forum, is included in the registration fee.
This year’s Housing Marketplace exhibit hall will be the largest one ever with 40 vendors including industry leaders such as PNC, FHLBank Pittsburgh, Presbyterian Senior Living, Ballard Spahr and Wells Fargo. Ample time will be provided during the forum for participants to visit the exhibit hall and build relationships with potential business partners.
New for this year will be an awards event honoring some of the most influential leaders in Pennsylvania’s housing field. The awards ceremony is planned for the second day of the forum on May 3.
The Housing Forum traditionally is attended by single-family and multifamily housing developers, financial services professionals, state and local government officials, housing advocates and consultants, and housing researchers. This year’s forum also is open to college students interested in the housing field, as it provides a valuable learning experience and networking opportunities. Reporters who cover residential real estate and housing issues are encouraged to attend, as well.
Early bird pricing for the Housing Forum is only $125 through April 4. After that date, registration increases to $175. Special reduced student pricing is just $50 to attend all forum sessions and events.
Detailed information about the 2013 Housing Forum, and registration, is available on the Web at http://housingforum.phfa.org. People with questions not answered by the information on the website should contact conference organizer Susan Shermer at 
About PHFA
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated $10.8 billion of funding for more than 150,200 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 127,374 rental units, and saved the homes of more than 45,900 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities, not by public tax dollars. PHFA is governed by a 14-member board.
Contact:
Scott Elliott
717-780-3916 (office)
717-649-6522 (cell)
