Important Information About the Census
Louisiana REALTORS • March 17, 2020
The decennial census is a population count that is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to take place every 10 years. The census is important for all REALTORS® because completing the Census survey means more resources for businesses and communities across the country.
Census data are invaluable to the National Association of REALTORS’ research team. Based upon decennial census data, NAR is able to:
Analyze census data related to the number of homebuyers in a particular area or universe of sales;
Compare census data to NAR’s local and national figures;
Forecast and make projections about housing industry growth;
Evaluate trends in generational housing demands and populations at state and local levels;
Analyze migration trends of recent movers to identify potential customers and markets;
Identify trends in household formation; and
Better understand the population of homeowners who have been affected by natural disasters.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau*, census data are used as follows:
Decision making at all levels of government.
Drawing federal, state, and local legislative districts.
Attracting new businesses to state and local areas.
Distributing over $675 billion annually in federal funds and even more in state funds.
Forecasting future transporta¬tion needs for all segments of the population.
Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services.
Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.
Directing funds for services for people in poverty.
Designing public safety strategies.
Development of rural areas.
Analyzing local trends.
Estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters.
Developing assistance programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Creating maps to speed emer¬gency services to households in need of assistance.
Delivering goods and services to local markets.
Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, or children.
Planning future government services.
Planning investments and eval¬uating financial risk.
Publishing economic and statistical reports about the United States and its people.
Facilitating scientific research.
Developing “intelligent” maps for government and business.
Providing proof of age, rela¬tionship, or residence certifi¬cates provided by the Census Bureau.
Distributing medical research.
Reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives.
Planning and researching for media as background for news stories.
Drawing school district boundaries.
Planning budgets for govern¬ment at all levels.
Spotting trends in the eco¬nomic well-being of the nation.
Planning for public transporta¬tion services.
Planning health and educa¬tional services for people with disabilities.
Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices.
Directing services to children and adults with limited English proficiency.
Planning urban land use.
Planning outreach strategies.
Understanding labor supply.
Assessing the potential for spread of communicable diseases.
Making business decisions.
Understanding consumer needs.
Planning for faith-based organizations.
Locating factory sites and dis¬tribution centers.
Distributing catalogs and developing direct mail pieces.
Setting a standard for creating both public and private sector surveys.
Evaluating programs in differ¬ent geographic areas.
Providing genealogical research.
Planning for school projects.
Developing adult education programs.
Researching historical subject areas.
Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and reha¬bilitation loans.
The census survey can be completed by phone, by mail, and online at 2020census.gov
Please pay attention to the following key dates:
Mid-March 2020: The Census Bureau will be inviting households to participate in the 2020 census*, and households can begin completing the Census survey by mail, phone, or online at 2020census.gov(link is external).
April 1, 2020: National Census Day! This is a nationally recognized day, and by this date every U.S. household will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 census, and to respond by mail, phone, or online.
June 30, 2020: Last day for households to respond to the census survey.
December 2020: The Census Bureau is required by law to provide an apportionment count to the President and Congress.
NAR’s latest consumer guide, “10 Tips for Unpacking Smartly After a Move,” was developed to help ease the burden buyers may feel when surrounded by boxes. For your clients on the cusp of a move, the guide suggests establishing a priority unpacking order, wiping down each room before unpacking, discarding boxes quickly, having garbage and donation bags at the ready, and more. Share the new guide along with the companion guide “10 Tips for Packing Smartly for a Move.” As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED : Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide on identifying homebuying wants vs. needs.
Thinking about buying a home? Discover how homeownership can help build wealth, increase financial stability, and create lasting value.
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: During a press conference today with Governor Jeff Landry, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced that registration for the next round of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1, and will include 3,000 grants. The registration period for this lottery will be open for three weeks, closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19. During the press conference, Gov. Landry signed HB 1187 by Rep. Paul Sawyer, which will allow Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to transfer $50 million in additional Katrina bond assessment funds to the LFHP. Combined with the $30 million in funding the program will receive through taxes and fees on insurance entities, the LFHP will receive a total of $80 million this year. “By lowering overall losses, we can reduce insurance and reinsurance costs, draw more insurers into the market, motivate existing companies to write additional policies and lower insurance premiums,” said Commissioner Temple. “That is exactly what the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is designed to do.” The list of coastal parishes that are eligible to participate is expanding to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes. Additionally, homeowners who live in the portions of Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberia, Livingston, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Vermilion parishes that were previously not included in the program will now be eligible to participate. A map showing the full list of eligible parishes is available on FortifyHomes.La.Gov . “Louisiana is the fastest growing state in the country for Fortified roofs, and that growth is not by accident—it is the result of strong support from Governor Landry and legislators like Chairman Talbot, Chairman Firment and Representative Sawyer, targeted program design, and a clear recognition that strengthening homes is one of the most effective ways to reduce insurance losses,” said Commissioner Temple. “At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs. It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.” To participate in the lottery, homeowners must register during the June registration period. Homeowners who registered for a previous round but were not selected must register again to participate. People who register on the last day of the registration period have the same chance of being selected as those who register on the first day, so there is no need to rush to register as soon as the period opens. When registering, homeowners will need to upload their homestead exemption, insurance policy declarations page that includes wind coverage, and flood insurance declarations page if the residence is in a flood zone. Homeowners who need assistance obtaining a copy of their homestead exemption should contact their parish tax assessor. Homeowners can contact their homeowners and flood insurance companies or agents for a copy of their policy declarations page. Homeowners are required to create a profile in the LFHP system before registering for the lottery and may do so by visiting the LFHP website and clicking the Login button. Homeowners who previously created a profile may use the same one for this and future rounds. Once the lottery registration period closes, the LFHP will randomly select 3,000 participants and send email notifications to registrants about whether they were selected to participate. These selection notices will be sent via email beginning on Monday, June 22. There are several program requirements that homeowners should be aware of before registering. Those interested in the program are encouraged to review eligibility information and frequently asked questions at FortifyHomes.La.Gov to determine whether their home meets the requirements for the program. If selected to participate in the grant program, homeowners will be financially responsible for having the home evaluated by a FORTIFIED-certified Evaluator as well as costs for the roof upgrade including permits, inspections and construction costs beyond the amount of the grant The LFHP provides grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The program helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.
