ABOUT NAREB HISTORY

NAREB, founded in 1947, stands as the oldest minority real estate trade association in the United States. It was born out of an urgent need to protect and expand equal housing opportunities for all people, regardless of race, creed, or color. From its inception, NAREB has operated on the front lines, challenging discriminatory systems and driving legislative breakthroughs that continue to advance Fair Housing for every community.

In an era when progress for African Americans was slow and uneven, schools remained segregated under the “separate but equal” lie, and equitable housing was still denied. Confronting these injustices, the men and women who gathered in Tampa, Florida, on the sweltering night of July 29, 1947, set a powerful precedent when they founded the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

NAREB logo with blue shield design and text 'National Association of Real Estate Brokers' and 'Realtist'.

Our story

Western Washington Realtist (WWR) is the local board of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). Established in December 2009 and officially chartered in August 2010, WWR is rooted in King County and proudly serves communities across Western Washington.

Logo for Western Washington Realists featuring a silhouette of the Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the background, and the Space Needle, with the text "WWR" and "Western Washington Realists".

Why Realtist?

A NAREB member is known as a REALTIST. In 1947, many local Realtor associations enforced bylaws that excluded Black professionals and denied them access to the Multiple Listing Service and other essential industry resources.

It wasn’t until 1964 that the first Black Realtor was admitted to NAR. While some today hold both titles, the term REALTIST remains a deliberate choice, honoring the history, struggle, and determination that shaped this organization.

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“True freedom requires economic security, and homeownership is one of the most powerful paths to that independence.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr