News Home

Directories
  Int'l Realty
  US Realty

The face of America's homeowners is undergoing change - racial and ethnic minorities will contribute to the majority of household growth over the next decade. They represent forty percent of the recent growth in homeownership and they will head up thirty percent of households by 2010.

Real estate agency office managers and recruiters looking at their plans to increase the number of agent associates and support staff for the upcoming 2002 calendar should consider these ways to create a more diverse environment in their offices:

1. Create internships. Use internships to attract minorities to work as temporary help for your busiest periods and offer training that would enable them to eventually work as an independent contractor, salaried real estate agent or support staff.

   What is the ratio of minorities in your marketplace? Use the ratios of Africa-Americans, Hispanic, Asian, etc. to set goals to find job candidates who can help you meet those criteria to create a more diverse office environment. So, if your market area population is 15% African-American, try to have your roster be representative. Strive to reflect the communities you serve.

2. Encourage all agents and staff to participate in improving your diversity goals for the new year and beyond. Ask them to refer any of their friends and acquaintances who can help you meet your goals of creating a more diverse office and who would enjoy your work atmosphere. Look for publications, events, festivals, churches, social clubs, etc. where you may be able to meet people and discuss opportunities that with your real estate agency.

3. Train yourself and your agents. Don't blame the real estate industry as a whole for the lack of a diverse membership. Participate in the National Association of Realtor's At Home with Diversity^SM program. The daylong course is geared toward increasing your awareness of and sensitivity to the similarities and differences among various cultures. This program, built on the letter and spirit of the Fair Housing Act, provides tools to work with buyers of different minority groups, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds.

4. Read Opening Doors: Selling to Multicultural Real Estate Clients by Michael Lee and Danielle Kennedy. Lee's experience working with many ethnic and foreign-born buyers gives him insights that real estate agents can use to their benefit working with multicultural buyers. The book covers African-Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Caribbean Islanders, Asians, Asian-Indians and Pakistanis, Middle Easterners, Native Americans, Europeans and Canadians.

5. Celebrate diversity in attitude, events, advertisements, and promotion. Provide buying and selling guides and forms in foreign languages. Participate in (advertising, support, and volunteering) ethnic events, multicultural festivities, or hire bilingual or multilingual agents, and new associate with diverse backgrounds. Celebrate the successes and get some press about it. Be proud.

Look for ways to improve your own situation and see who else in the industry is making a diversity difference. Follow their lead or decide to be the frontrunner yourself and set an example for others.

Pat Rioux

| IRED Home | Search IRED |


© 1995-2009 IRED.Com, Inc
All Rights Reserved