(From left to right) President-Elect of CCAR Board of Directors Barbara Safran, City of Walnut Creek, Mayor, Cindy Silva, President of CCAR Board of Directors Fred Watson, Assembly Member Joan Buchanan, President of Bay East Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors Otto Catrina 

The HOM Bus cruised into California today. San Francisco Association of REALTORS® received a visit from the bus Monday afternoon. Members toured the bus, mingled, and discussed issues in their market.

(From left to right) NVAR President-Elect Blane Johnson, NVAR President Mike Young, RSAR President-Elect Kevin Sigstad, RSAR President Sherrie Cartinella, and representative from HUD discussed the importance of home ownership.

It's a great time to buy in Nevada, Nevada Association of REALTORS(r) President-Elect Blane Johnson told the crowd.

Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller welcomed the bus, REALTORS(R), and media to the Sierra Summit Mall in Reno, Nev.

"Southern Nevada is often referred to as ground zero," Henderson, Nev., Councilwoman Debra March told consumers, reporters, and REALTORS(R) at the bus tour stop here. "We're first in foreclosures, we're first in lost property value, and we lead the nation in unemployment. But ground zero is where opportunity occurs."

Reaching home buyers with assistance and an understanding of the benefits of home ownership at a time when it's often less expensive to buy then rent in Nevada "will further stabilize neighborhoods," March added. "Henderson is prepared to partner with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) and the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS(R) to identify opportunities and benefits" for home owners.

Kolleen Kelley, 2012 President of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS(r), welcomes the Home Ownership Matters bus to Southern Nevada. Her media interviews made the local Las Vegas news.

Home owner Mari Barosay stopped by to tell her loan modification success story: She worked with Nevada's Hardest Hit Program and Ocwen Financial to reduce her $250,000 mortgage to $98,000, based on market value. "I walk my dog and see empty houses and brown lawns. But, me, I'm still in my house!"  

People still want to buy -- there's pent-up demand, says REALTOR(R) "Jay" Boyd Penton of Keller Williams in Las Vegas. As if on cue, a home buyer stopped Jay at the event to ask him to help him find a home. 

Scoping out the giveaways and making friends at the bus stop at the Boca Park Shopping Center in Las Vegas.