02/05/2026
It's and we at Reverie wanted to share this important moment in history!
Do you know about the oldest minority trade association in America? It's called the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, or NAREB, which was founded in 1947 and still exists to this day.
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. (NAREB) was founded as an equal opportunity and civil rights advocacy organization for African American real estate professionals, consumers, and communities in America.
NAREB has played varying influential roles in the implementation of equal rights, fair housing, equal opportunity, and community development legislation at the local, state, and federal levels since its founding.
Significant legislative achievements include the creation of HUD in 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, the FIRREA in 1989, and establishing affordable housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 1992, as well as the updates to each of these laws and the implementation of many associated new laws, regulations, and presidential orders to the present date.
It's important to note that prior to 1961, many local REALTOR® associations operating under National Association of REALTORS® (the largest real estate trade association today), prevented anyone who wasn’t a white male from becoming a member (and gaining access to MLS listings and other essential resources). Often, their bylaws explicitly stated that blacks, women, Jews, and other groups were not allowed to join. It wasn’t until 1961 that NAR finally overturned the policies that prevented Black real estate professionals from joining their local boards of REALTORS®.
So thank you to NAREB for being a pioneer of equality and fairness in housing. Learn more at