HISTORY OF

THE HOUSTON REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION

The Houston Real Estate Association (HREA) is the local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). NAREB, founded in 1947 is the oldest and largest minority trade association in America. HREA was founded on the principle that all citizens have the right to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed or color.

The Houston Real Estate Association was founded in 1949 by eleven progressive real estate brokers. The brokers, faced with the dilemma of discriminatory real estate practices, deemed it necessary to form an entity that could ensure not only democracy in the real estate industry, but also in housing opportunities.

The founding meeting was held at the then Negro Chamber of Commerce. The Founders were: J.W. Hubert, J.E Robinson, J.W. Robinson, Sr., E. J. Hardy, W.O. Bonner, W.W. Robinson, E.S. McCullough, O.J. Polk, Garfield Clark, Roscoe Cavitt and S.D. Jones, Sr.

In 1956, the organization was incorporated and became the Houston Real Estate Association, Inc.

Encouraged by the prospect of progress through organization, the Association immediately launched an educational program in order to better qualify themselves and to open the door for other Negroes interested in the real estate industry. Through the cooperation of Texas Southern University, evening classes in Real Estate Principles, Salesmanship, Real Estate Brokerage, and Real Estate Law was sponsored by the Association.

In January 1968, the Cooperative Listing Service was organized. A building to House the offices of the Houston Real Estate Association and the Cooperative Listing Service was acquired in September 1968.

For over sixty years our membership has increased in size. We continue to be in the forefront in the community on housing issues. Currently we have a monthly Educational & Networking luncheon meeting with one of our affiliate members sponsoring the luncheon. We have the most successful Career Day at local schools, most effective Housing Fair in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area, and give scholarships to local real estate schools for new agents. We also donate to churches, conduct homebuyer counseling workshops, provide financial literacy classes, support homeless shelters and support various Foundations in our community.