The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP), which will host its inaugural National LGBT Real Estate Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 14-16, has announced that residential real estate franchising and brokerage services leader Realogy Holdings Corp., and its Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Century 21 and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brands, will serve as key sponsors of the event. In addition, Realogy signed an agreement with NAGLREP to underwrite new annual memberships in the 700-member trade association for the Realogy brands’ affiliated agents to receive a discounted association membership rate, according to NAGLREP Founder Jeff Berger.
“We are very proud to sponsor the NAGLREP conference and help grow its membership association, as we fully support the mission of LGBT advocacy in the real estate community,” says Tanya Reu, senior vice president of human resources for Realogy Franchise Group and Realogy Corporate. “It is our hope that other companies will follow our lead by taking an active role at this convention.”
This is the first national business and networking forum of its kind dedicated to the LGBT real estate market and promoting homeownership in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The fall conference is expected to draw leading experts on the LGBT market, nationally recognized trainers, housing and real estate executives and about 400 top-producing LGBT real estate professionals.
According to Berger, who founded the group in 2007, it was the increased climate of acceptance and encouragement from various Realogy executives that urged him to move forward with a national event. “Times are changing,” says Berger. “The words of encouragement and early sponsor support from Realogy and its real estate executives were a compelling influence that made the NAGLREP board feel that the time was right for a national LGBT industry event.”
Recent estimates place LGBT consumer spending at $830 billion annually, second only to the Hispanic market in buying power. Gay consumers are brand loyal to companies that are committed to diversity and equality, says Berger, who expects interest from corporate sponsors to be strong as NAGLREP becomes more visible in the industry.
“The LGBT market is a prime target for housing brands that want to be on the radar with a lucrative market segment,” says Berger. According to Berger, the conference program will deliver a mix of LGBT market data, skills-focused breakout sessions and town-hall sessions that touch on the advocacy issues that influence and impact service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homebuyers and sellers.
Support for NAGLREP is in line with Realogy’s focus with other diverse market initiatives and sponsorship of minority groups such as the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Asian Real Estate Association of America, and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, among others.
For more information, visit http://naglrep.com/conference2014/.
