NAHREP’s Value Proposition and Statement on DEI
By NAHREP
January 29, 2025
NAHREP’s Unique Value Proposition
NAHREP is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It boasts a network of over 58,000 real estate professionals and 176 corporate partners. The value it brings to the industry has established it as the largest Hispanic business organization in the country. Over the next twenty years, Hispanics are projected to account for 70% of homeownership gains, acting as the primary growth drivers for an industry that accounts for 16% of the U.S. GDP.
NAHREP organizes more than 400 professional events annually. Membership is open to anyone in the housing industry who wants to grow their business and believes homeownership is the cornerstone of the American dream. The organization provides market intelligence, professional education, networking opportunities, and access to tens of thousands of agents and brokers who connect companies to the fastest-growing homebuyer segment in the housing market.
Our Position on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
While NAHREP is not a civil rights organization, it has consistently championed the values of DEI. It does not view DEI as a social policy but rather a critical business strategy. Like many others, NAHREP aspires to a merit-based society where capable individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religion, have equal opportunities to succeed. DEI was intended to address the reality that not everyone starts from the same position and the principle that creating a more level playing field benefits both companies and the economy as a whole.
Despite some claims, there is little evidence that proponents of DEI have promoted lowering standards so that individuals from historically marginalized groups could obtain jobs for which they are unqualified. Rather, the essence of DEI is to foster greater transparency and dismantle barriers established by legacies, nepotism, and other systemic biases, enabling the most qualified candidates to emerge.
Criticism of DEI programs often ignores the fact that America attracts residents from all over the world, and the demographics of both customers and the workforce are evolving quickly. As the country grows more diverse, companies that employ individuals reflecting these changes will gain a competitive advantage. Businesses that successfully hire, mentor, and promote leaders with language and cultural skills will be better positioned to reach and serve a broader and more diverse customer base.
While NAHREP supports its goals, it recognizes that the overall execution of DEI has room for improvement. It encourages companies committed to the principles of DEI to evaluate their activities and how they convey these to their employees. The backlash against DEI can largely be traced to its tendency to prioritize one social identity group over another rather than fostering coalitions that include everyone in workplace dialogues and invite their participation in the solutions. At its best, DEI concentrates on improving outcomes for all employees while accurately communicating the benefits of progress to their business and the overall economy.
About NAHREP:
The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®), a nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association, is dedicated to advancing sustainable homeownership for the Hispanic community in America. NAHREP has a network of over 40,000 real estate professionals and 100 local chapters nationwide. It hosts several national events per year and publishes multiple industry cornerstone reports and multimedia content annually. Join us in advocating for policies that grow sustainable Latino homeownership; read our 2024 policy priorities here.