22 February Working for an Equitable Tomorrow: National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB)/Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore (REBB) by Jacky Mueck DEI 0 0 Comment 536 The Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore, Inc., (REBB, Inc.) is the Baltimore chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). REBB was chartered in 1948, one year after NAREB in 1947. Our collective mission is to promote and support democracy in housing locally and nationwide to eradicate discriminatory practices that prevent Black populations from owning homes. The home ownership rate for Black people is low in comparison with other groups. According to NAREB’s 2023 State of Housing in Black America Report (SHIBA), in 2022, the Black homeownership rate was 45 percent, a level that was only modestly higher than it was at the time of the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act; the gap in homeownership rates between Black and white populations is larger than it was more than half a century ago. The issues that pose challenges for home ownership are income, credit, and down payment. Although these challenges exist for some, Black people encounter significant hardships because of systematic barriers that have been in place for decades. Moreover, lack of inventory and high sales prices have impacted home affordability. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) affects housing also. Conversations about housing disparities, which affect Black and brown communities, must continue. DEI is important because diverse hiring practices from real estate agents and brokers, to loan officers, processors, underwriters, and appraisers, helps with supporting and understanding the needs of a community. REBB Goals for 2024 include: Collaborate with organizations and partners who understand the importance of increasing home ownership in our community Educate consumers and provide financial literacy, which will assist them in purchasing a home. REBB is committed to providing homebuyer workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and financial literacy sessions. We advocate for equality and democracy in housing so that families can have a piece of the American dream of home ownership and from this create generational wealth for their families. REBB is participating in NAREB’s 60 City Community Day in April 2024. It will be a day when 100 Chapters across the country will provide homebuying workshops, and more, in their respective communities. Now is a great time to be a Realtist! To learn more about REBB, click here. To review the 2023 SHIBA Report, click here. FM24, NAREB, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore, REBB Share Comments are closed.