The National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Department of the Treasury are collaborating to help Realtors better assist homeowners who are struggling to sell their homes in a short sale.

Realtors who attend upcoming Making Home Affordable "Help for Homeowners" outreach events, sponsored by the Treasury Department, will learn insights to help them navigate the short sale process and have the opportunity to meet directly with loan servicers on their clients’ behalf for assistance with difficult transactions, according to a statement.

"As the nation’s leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, Realtors are working hard to keep more people in their homes, and when a family is absolutely unable to keep their home, Realtors are there to help homeowners by facilitating a loan modification or short sale," said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Assoc. Inc. in Miami.

"Help for Homeowners" community events will take place throughout the year; the first sessions are in Miami today and Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 24. Additional events are scheduled in Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, Calif.

The sessions for real estate professionals are not open to homeowners, but borrowers who are in financial distress and concerned about losing their home to foreclosure are encouraged to attend the free homeowner sessions. Homeowners who are having difficulty paying their mortgage will be able to meet one-on-one with loan servicers and housing counselors to explore foreclosure prevention options and work toward solutions to their mortgage problems. Real estate professionals are encouraged to invite homeowners and their clients to the events and are welcome to accompany their clients in conversations with the servicers.