Introducing the Black Real Estate Agent Program™, presented by HomeLight and NAREB
Providing financial, educational, and career support for aspiring agents.
What is the Black Real Estate Agent Program™?
HomeLight and NAREB created the Black Real Estate Agent Program™ to improve the rate of homeownership for Black Americans. According to research by Deloitte, fewer than 6% of active real estate agents and brokers identify as Black, but more than 11% of the population is Black. The program’s goal is to increase the number of top-producing Black agents in real estate by eliminating barriers to entering the field.
The program provides financial and business support for brand-new Black real estate agents. HomeLight and NAREB will help cover many of the onboarding costs for new agents, including pre-licensing classes, agent exams, and some technology and marketing needs. Program participants will be paired with an established real estate broker who can serve as a mentor and advisor. And we will provide ongoing training and education for new agents above and beyond what they can expect from their brokers.
Why are we concerned about systemic racism in real estate?
The homeownership rate for Black Americans hit a historic low in July 2019, impacting neighborhoods and families, school quality, and generational wealth. By sponsoring Black real estate agents and providing them with tools to achieve high-production success, we hope to make a difference.
Systemic racism has oppressed Black Americans for decades. We’ve seen the direct effects of racist laws and lending policies in real estate. By blocking Black Americans from buying homes anywhere they wanted to live, the government and the real estate industry have both contributed to the social justice issues permeating our country today.
HomeLight believes that every American deserves to own a home. We also believe it is our responsibility to support solutions to end systemic racism. So we’ve partnered with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) to create the Black Real Estate Agent Program™.
Who is qualified to apply for the program?
We’re seeking aspiring Black real estate professionals who are:
- Between the ages of 18 and 35
- Interested in a career in real estate, but not currently established as an agent
- Willing to work with a NAREB broker during at least their first year in real estate
- Committed to spending five to ten hours per week working with mentors or on continuing education
- Applicants can be located in with NAREB Realtist presence
Applications are open immediately. Initial accepted applicants will be announced on March 4th at the NAREB Mid-Winter Conference.
For more information, read our FAQs.
What will the program provide?
Selected applicants will receive up to $5,000 in benefits, including:
- Fees for pre-licensing classes and the licensing exam
- Up to $500 to spend on marketing
- One year subscription to CRM software
- One year of brokerage fees, MLS fees, Association fees, and NAREB dues
- Continuing education from experts on everything from negotiating contracts to building ads on social media
- A mentor who is well-established in real estate and who can offer support and advice
- One year of attendance to NAREB conferences
Kick start your real estate career with HomeLight and NAREB
About HomeLight
HomeLight is the only objective, end-to-end platform that empowers people to achieve better outcomes during one of life's most important moments: buying or selling their home. HomeLight provides a variety of software and services to home buyers, sellers, and real estate agents at every step throughout the real estate journey, from finding a top real estate agent, to accessing a network of cash buyers through HomeLight Simple Sale™, and providing innovative financing solutions through HomeLight Trade-In™.
Each year, HomeLight helps hundreds of thousands of clients connect with top real estate agents and facilitates billions of dollars of real estate on its platform. HomeLight is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in Manhattan, Scottsdale, and Seattle. For additional information and images, visit our press page.
About NAREB
HomeLight and NAREB created the Black Real Estate Program™ in response to the 2020 social justice movement. According to the National Association of Realtors, only about 7% of Realtors self-identify as Black. Our mission is to increase the number of top-producing Black agents in real estate, which we believe will also help improve the rate of homeownership for Black Americans.
At the same time, NAREB advocates for and promotes access to business opportunity for Black real estate professionals in all of the real estate disciplines. NAREB annually publishes The State of Housing in Black America report. For more information, visit NAREB website.
How social justice intersects with real estate
We dig into history to explain how we got here and what still needs to be done to increase racial parity and homeownership rates. - visit our Agent Resource Center
Visit our Agent Resource Center
