William Brown

A second-generation REALTOR® from Alamo, California, with 35-plus years in real estate, William “Bill” E. Brown was the 2017 president and 2013 vice president of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). He also served on NAR’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Leadership Team. In addition, Brown is the founder of Oakland-based Investment Properties, a division of the family real estate business founded in 1964 by his father, William H. Brown. Brown is also co-founder of Springhill Real Estate Partners, a privately-owned, multi-family investment company. At the local level, Brown served as president of the Oakland Association of REALTORS® in 1984. He chaired successful campaigns to fight two rent control initiatives in Oakland, California—No on E and No on EE. Brown was named REALTOR® of the Year in 2008 and previously served as the first landlord representative on the City of Oakland’s Residential Rent Arbitration Board. In 2010, Brown was inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame.