Few women worked as REALTORS® as recently as the late 70s and early 80s. According to the 2010 NAR Member Profile, 57 percent today are women. But let’s look at a little history of women in the industry.

In 1924, the California Real Estate Association formed a Women’s Division after members founded the idea on a train ride home from the National Association’s convention in Washington, D.C. At the convention, only men were allowed to vote on issues brought before the body. In those days, women were often compensated for a closing with a bottle of champagne instead of a commission check.

In 1938, Joseph Catherine, president of the National Association of Real Estate Boards (now NAR), encouraged the formation of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR) after being impressed by the California group. The National Association was ready to recognize women and they voted to form the Women’s Council at their annual convention held in Milwaukee in November of that year. Thirty-seven women represented nine states at the meeting and the inception of WCR.

Today WCR has more than 290 chapters and is the 12th largest women’s professional organization providing in-depth management training, industry education and networking in addition to its own NAR sponsored designation of PMN (Performance Management Network) which I earned and now hold.

Women don’t consider themselves as a majority in the real estate industry, they consider themselves as professionals working alongside their fellow REALTORS®.

Posted by:  Judy LeMarr