Realtist Definition | Bankrate.com

What is a Realtist?

A Realtist is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an organization that brings together minority real estate professionals, including real estate agents, appraisers, developers, mortgage brokers and loan officers. NAREB promotes “democracy in housing” and advocates for public policies that “protect and expand sustainable homeownership.” Only a member of NAREB can call herself a Realtist, which is a registered trademark.

Deeper definition

In 1947, a group of black Americans got together in Tampa, Florida, to form the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an organization focused on civil rights and equal opportunity advocacy.

Today, NAREB is open to all real estate professionals who support its vision. The organization has branches in nearly every major U.S. city. NAREB continues to focus on the housing needs of black Americans through programs and initiatives that raise awareness and address public policies related to fair housing, equal opportunity, community development legislation, access to credit and other issues. NAREB also promotes its marketplaces as communities that are attractive to investors, employers and residents of all income levels, ages and cultures.

NAREB’s website cites its influence in the creation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), enacted in the wake of the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s, and many other legislative developments at the federal, state and local levels.

Realtist example

A minority couple plans to buy a home in a nice area of town. They decide to approach a real estate agent who is a member of NAREB because they believe an agent who is a Realtist will understand their requirements. The Realtist helps them find an attractive home where there is space for their children to play, good schools with diverse student populations, and where they are welcomed by their neighbors.