President-elect Donald Trump has nominated retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to be the next U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Carson will replace Julian Castro, who has served in the position since July 2014. The National Association of REALTORS® has expressed a commitment to work with the new administration to support HUD and its mission. “We congratulate Dr. Carson on accepting this important challenge, and wish him the very best of luck in meeting the task ahead,” said NAR President William E. Brown in a statement released Monday. “REALTORS® know that the incoming secretary of Housing and Urban Development has a big job ahead. Potential homebuyers face a range of hurdles. While we’ve made great strides in recent years, far more can be done to put the dream of homeownership in reach for more Americans.” In his announcement, Trump praised Carson as “a brilliant mind … passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities,” Carson is a native of Detroit and a graduate of Yale University and the University of Michigan Medical School. He was a celebrated pediatric neurosurgeon with Johns Hopkins before catapulting himself onto the national stage with a run for the Republican Party nomination for president. After leaving the race in March, he endorsed Trump. The HUD secretary oversees the Federal Housing Administration and other programs addressing the country’s housing needs, community development, and fair housing law. The department is also tasked with supporting homeownership for low- and moderate-income families through mortgage insurance and other subsidies. According to the White House, the HUD secretary oversees approximately 9,000 employees and a $40 billion budget.

Source: Realtor Magazine