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report a resistance to allow those modifications. Cabarrus County also administers housing programs to provide for handicap accessibility. The Housing and Home Improvement program is specifically designed to provide handicap accessibility. Discrimination in the Sales Market Does the Local Association of Realtors have a MLS Service? Yes Is the Local Association of Realtors a VAMA signatory? Yes Is there any evidence of racial steering or blockbusting within the local market? No What are the relative housing values for minority and non - minority communities of similar economic composition? The areas of high minority concentration do seem to correlate to lower income areas. The six census tracts that contain the highest populations of minorities have an average home value of $135,100 while the other tracts have an average value of $150,830. However, these numbers do not account for land values due to size. The areas of minority density are smaller, more dense properties. The less diverse census tracts have larger properties that increase property values. Can nondiscriminatory reasons for these differences be identified? If yes, list them. Yes. The main nondiscriminatory reason can most likely be attributed to the lower property values of the smaller, older homes which traditionally are located in the minority neighborhoods. These homes are on smaller lots than the newly developed housing. Many homes in the older neighborhoods need maintenance or rehabilitation work and are associated with the "mill" lifestyle. These neighborhoods may not be viewed as desirable. Identify any barriers to homeownership opportunities within your jurisdiction. Lack of knowledge of the home buying process can be a problem. Many individuals and families do not understand the loan process, credit, budgeting and home maintenance. Cabarrus County has Prosperity Unlimited, a local nonprofit agency and CHDO, that teaches and assists individuals and families in home buying, budgeting, and home maintenance and offers down payment assistance to those who are qualified. Many individuals with disabilities may encounter barriers when seeking to purchase a home, although many newer homes are being built on slabs with universal access so that persons in wheelchairs can have easier access (without modifications). Cabarrus County does have a program to address handicap accessibility for qualified individuals. This program allows for homes of qualified applicants to be modified to address handicap accessibility issues, however, funding is limited to $1500 per unit in this program and that can be prohibitive. 261Page Analysis of Impediments March 2011 Attachment number 1 F -1 Page 76