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Protect REALTORS® by providing legal guidance and education.
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from Illinois REALTORS®, network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events throughout the year.
National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
The Hispanic population is growing. Its homeownership rate is on the rise, incomes are increasing as is labor force participation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And, with a median age of 28.7, “the Hispanic Millennial” is a hot topic in real estate.
“I think one of the top benefits of joining NAHREP is the anticipated growth of the Hispanic millennial homebuyer, especially in Chicago,” says REALTOR® Eddie Garcia, managing broker of Realty of Chicago in Forest View and president of NAHREP’s Chicago West chapter, which is focused on expanding membership and services to the city’s western suburbs.
Says Garcia: “Join to get to know our market and get referral sources. If you have clients moving to Texas, Miami, Los Angeles, you name it, San Antonio, it is a great network to have someone to reach out to.”
The network is big. NAHREP has 30,000 members nationwide with chapters in 24 states, and four local chapters in Illinois. Their growth mirrors the growth in the Hispanic population, at 58.9 million Hispanics representing 18.1 percent of the overall U.S. population. Illinois ranks fifth among states for highest Hispanic population. (Source: State of Hispanic Homeownership 2018)
Eddie Garcia, NAHREP [6:50], Curtis Hunt, NAGLREP [17:12], Nykea Pippion McGriff, WCR [27:56], and Peter De Jong, AREAA [40:04] share their story of their organizations and how getting involved has helped shape leadership and business skills for a successful career in real estate.
Garcia got his real estate license at age 21 and sold his first property six months later. He says he didn’t start going to events right away, instead he kept his head down doing the work.
“Then in 2010, I started going to events when someone invited me,” says Garcia. “Now I’ve gone to the national conference in L.A. and Houston, D.C. and San Diego. So now many of my contacts have become my friends. Networking is everything.”
As part of NAHREP’s “Hispanic Wealth Project, the “NAHREP 10” is a guide developed to help its members be more successful.
“Newer agents don’t have a mature understanding of wealth and prosperity,” says Garcia. “NAHREP 10 talks about living below your means in case we have another recession. It’s important to minimize your debt and know your net worth.”
He adds: “We educate our agents to not buy the Ferrari, there could be a dip coming. We are here to make it a career.”
Learn more from Eddie Garcia as he talks about NAHREP with Jakeeva Lee, Illinois REALTORS® Industry Partners Liaison, and Brian Kwilosz of the Illinois REALTORS® YPN Advisory Board, in the latest YPN podcast “Expand Your Network with Industry Partners.”
NAHREP At-a-Glance
Membership: 30,000
24 state chapters with four local chapters in Illinois:
Mission: To advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership in America by educating and empowering real estate professionals who serve Hispanic homebuyers and sellers, advocating for policy that supports the organization’s mission, and facilitating relationships between industry stakeholders and housing professionals.
Membership Fees: $49 Standard member of a local chapter, $199 Platinum membership (chapter and national membership benefits)
Established: 1999
Watch for our next post in this Industry Partners series on the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals.
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