The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), the voice of 50,000 Hispanic real estate professionals in 44 states, will host its second annual Hispanic Marketing Conference September 17 -- 20 in San Diego.

At the conference, former HUD Secretary Henry G. Cisneros, now CEO of American CityVista, will lead the industry's first summit to examine ways of overcoming obstacles to Hispanic home ownership. NAHREP has secured participation from the financial services, real estate and insurance industries, as well as from policy-makers and activists.

"Hispanic consumers in the U.S. represent $500 billion in purchasing power. That's five times the size of the budget of the state of California, the world's fourth largest economy," said Ernest Reyes, NAHREP's chairman.

"Over the next 10 years, 40 percent of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. are expected to be Hispanic. This industry has a real opportunity and an obligation to help the Hispanic community invest in America's future and their own financial stability."

On Thursday, September 19, conference attendees will be able to address questions to a dozen national housing leaders at the town hall-style industry summit, entitled "Accelerating Hispanic Homeownership in the Next Decade." In addition to moderator Cisneros, panelists will include:

• Gary Acosta, vice chairman and CEO, NAHREP
• Van Davis, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate Corporation;
• Bruce Dorpalen, director of mortgage counseling, ACORN
• Mercy Jimenez, senior vice president of marketing, Fannie Mae
• Doug Lambert, senior vice president and regional executive, Bank of America
• Craig Nickerson, vice president, community development lending, Freddie Mac
• Janet Parker, SVP Credit Risk Management and Operations, PMI Mortgage Insurance Co.
• Luis Pena, Director of Hispanic Markets, Citigroup
• Catherine Whatley, president-elect, National Association of Realtors.

The conference also includes an exhibit hall where sponsors will showcase their newest products. Registrants will choose from two separate breakout tracks for real estate agents and mortgage originators and be treated to world-class entertainment provided by Grammy Award winner Poncho Sanchez, and award-winning Latino satirist Lalo Alcaraz. All events are scheduled at the Town & Country Convention Center in San Diego.

A partial list of sponsors includes Fannie Mae, Citigroup, Freddie Mac, Bank of America, Cendant, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, AmeriDream, Countrywide, Principal Residential Mortgage and Prudential Real Estate.