Women in Real Estate

Since 1978, women have comprised the majority of REALTORS®. Women are particularly attracted to real estate’s flexible work hours and opportunities to help families. While there are many women in the industry, they are less represented in executive roles. Changing leadership demographics will require a commitment to developing and promoting female talent at all levels.

Compared to residential real estate, the commercial real estate sector is a vastly different situation for women. As of 2020, women made up only 36.7 percent of the CRE workforce, although the subsequent pandemic has stalled the career progress of many women in the industry. Especially in commercial real estate, there are a number of networking groups and organizations that provide forums for women to support each other and work together for gender parity.

When the National Association of REALTORS® started in 1908, the membership was entirely male. Women began joining shortly thereafter, but remained a minority in the organization for the first few decades. The Women’s Council of REALTORS® was founded in 1938 as the Women’s Division of NAR. Female membership in the association has grown steadily over the years. NAR has since seen a total of eight female Presidents.

NAR Article

Women and the Real Estate Profession

Women in Real Estate: It’s Time to Be Fearless (RISMedia, Mar. 8, 2024)

Some of real estate’s top female thought leaders discuss how they are handling the inevitable fallout, and their best ideas for boosting female empowerment in our industry.

More Women Than Ever Earn Spots in Real Estate Power Ranking (Real Estate News, Jan. 10, 2024)

• There are 53 female leaders on the 2024 SP 200, up from 47 last year, the previous high.
• Women were also the biggest movers on the list overall, with Opendoor CEO Carrie Wheeler rising 107 spots.
• This year’s Watchlist, which highlights up-and-coming leaders, is 64% women — a ratio more aligned with the industry as a whole.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling (AExperience, Feb. 6, 2023)

“Providing our members and our community with education that can help them advance in their careers is a key part of our mission as an association. We also want to continue to motivate women in our community and offer them an opportunity to make connections with individuals who can help them reach success.”

Shattering the Glass Ceiling in Real Estate (Economists’ Outlook, Sep. 28, 2021)

“The real estate industry is dominated by powerhouse women entrepreneurs. Women are likely to enter real estate not only because of their interest in the field and the flexibility the industry provides for setting their own work schedules, but also because of their strong desire to help families and work with people. In the broader U.S. economy, the notion of setting one's own hours and being one's own boss is often not possible outside of real estate.”

Career Choices in Real Estate: Through the Lens of Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation (National Association of REALTORS®, Mar. 30, 2021)

“In 2017, the National Association of REALTORS® took its first look at member business through the lens of gender and race. The report provided insights into differences in why members entered the field, skills important for the field of real estate, areas in which members worked, the typical number of transactions, sales volume, and the income differences.

The 2021 report expands these topics and scope. In addition to examining experiences by race and gender, NAR members were also asked questions regarding their sexual orientation. A new category was added to compare and contrast experiences among members who identify as Straight/Heterosexual and identify as LGBTQ+.”

Building the Blueprint for Change: Women in Real Estate (KPMG, May 19, 2019)

This whitepaper looks at the importance of women in the real estate industry and provides advice for attracting, retaining, and promoting female talent.