WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 07/21/10 -- Applications are now being accepted for the Home Ownership Participation for Everyone Awards. The HOPE Awards is a national industry awards program that recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to increase and sustain minority homeownership.

The HOPE Awards is sponsored by a partnership of real estate associations; awards are conferred every other year. Winners receive $10,000 and paid travel expenses to attend the HOPE Awards in Washington, D.C., in May 2011. Applications will be accepted through December 17, 2010, at www.hopeawards.org.

In 2011, the HOPE Awards will celebrate 10 years of helping make the dream of owning a home possible for Americans of all backgrounds. Since the awards' inception, 30 individuals and organizations have been awarded $300,000 to recognize their work toward eliminating disparities and overcoming barriers to help minority buyers achieve and sustain homeownership.

The categories for the HOPE Awards are Education, Finance, Leadership, Media, Project, Public Policy, and Real Estate Brokerage. Entries are evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, based on the impact of the nominee's work in increasing minority homeownership, use of innovative ideas, minority focus and affordability.

Individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and state and local agencies are eligible. Self-nominations are encouraged.

The fifth HOPE Awards, which were granted in May 2009, honored the Korean Churches for Community Development (Education); Illinois Assistive Technology Program (Finance); Chris McCarthy, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity (Leadership); Community Reinvestment Association of North America (Media); and Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. (Project). No awards were given in the Public Policy and Real Estate Brokerage categories.

The deadline for HOPE Awards applications is December 17, 2010. For more information about the awards or to submit an application, visit www.hopeawards.org. Finalists and winners will be announced in early 2011.

The HOPE Awards is a national industry awards program that recognizes individuals and organizations that are making outstanding contributions to increase minority homeownership. The awards are sponsored by a partnership of real estate associations: the Asian Real Estate Association of America, Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association, Chinese Real Estate Association of America, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, National Association of Real Estate Brokers and the National Association of Realtors®. For more information, visit www.hopeawards.org.