About AAREP

The African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP) was founded in Washington, DC in May of 1995. AAREP began as a small, informal group of individuals who provided friendship, support and encouragement to one another. This small group has grown to become a full-fledged professional association with a network of over 800+ people, all involved in some aspect of commercial real estate. AAREP’s mission statement, “To lead in the intellectual, professional and economic development of African American real estate professionals,” sets the tone for the organization’s programs and activities, and challenges each member to do their part to ensure the continued success of AAREP.

AAREP has gained recognition throughout the Washington real estate community as a highly successful professional association, known for both the depth of its membership and the success of the programs and activities undertaken by the group. It has been noted that every major discipline within the real estate industry is represented by AAREP members. Within AAREP, there are members with the ability to select and acquire a site, provide financing, conduct title investigations, design and construct a project, lease the space, manage the property, eventually sell the property and document the transaction from start to finish.

Programs and activities have included monthly lunch and evening programs featuring speakers addressing current industry topics, a “Real Estate Week” program with students at Howard University, participation in the “REAP” (Real Estate Apprenticeship Program), an annual awards program, and our annual golf outing for members and guests.

AAREP’s leadership consists of an Executive Committee which includes the elected officers of the organization (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer), the appointed chair and co-chair persons of the current standing committees, an Assistant Secretary, pro bono legal counsel, and the Immediate Past President. An Association Management, an Association Accountant, and newsletter preparation services are provided on a contract basis.

AAREP continues to seek new means of providing value to its members. In recent years, we have launched the Minorities Internships in Commercial Real Estate (MICRE) program, and current plans include professional development workshops and seminars, an increased number of programs and activities, establishment of an endowed scholarship fund, participation in real estate opportunities and increased access to industry leaders.

The success of AAREP has led to the formation of a two additional AAREP organizations in Baltimore and New York, and in 2006 the initial plans commenced to establish a chapter in North Carolina. These groups represent the first of what many see as an inevitable trend – the creation of a national AAREP organization. Already interest has been shown from groups in several cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles) regarding the formation of local AAREP chapters. It is reasonable to expect that with the continued success of AAREP, this dynamic organization’s impact will extend far beyond its original home base of Washington, DC – and that first gathering of friends in 1995!

EVENTS @ A GLANCE