b'March 2024NAREB REPORT CITES SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC, EDUCATION, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP GAINS FOR BLACK WOMENN AREBS 2023 Women Investing in Real Estate (W.I.R.E) report found that between 1990 and By Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose2019,Blackwomenincreasedhomeownershipby5.6%.Moreover,Blackwomenages 45-54andover75hada2.9%increaseduringthepandemic,thelargestamong Blackhomeowners.Inearly2020,whenthepandemiconsetslowedhomebuying, Blackwomenfaredbetterthanmen.ThefullreportcanbedownloadedHERE.With the rise of Black women buying homes, there is hope for the future, exclaimed Dr.CourtneyJohnsonRose,NAREBsPresident.Blackwomenarebreakingdown barriersinseveralareas,andhomeownershipisanotherexampleoftheresilience andstrengthofBlackwomenworkingtosecureafinancialfoundationfor themselvesandtheirfamiliesandcontributingtoclosingtheracialwealthgap. Byowningahome,Blackwomencreatepathstowardlong-termfinancialstability andalegacyfortheirfamilies.HomeownershipamongBlackwomeniseconomic empowermentandservesasacatalystforbroadercommunitydevelopment. Dr. Rose added: As homeowners invest in their properties, neighborhood revitalization oftenfollows,impactinglocaleconomiesandfosteringcommunitypride.Thisupward trajectoryofBlackfemalehomeownershipembodiestheresilienceanddetermination toovercomehistoricalchallengesandpavethewayforsocialandeconomicprogress.NotingthatBlackfemalehomebuyersreboundedfasterandcontinuedtooutpace malesduringtheeconomicrecoveryfromthepandemic,theW.I.R.Ereportoutlined thedatademonstratingBlackwomensgrowingstatusandstrengthinAmericansociety.Im looking forward to sharing my story, the triumphs and challenges, as well as hearing from my esteemed colleaguesaswegoontodiscusswhatsnextforwomenleadersandentrepreneurs,Dixonsaid.Wells Fargoisexcitedtobealeaderinthisspaceofsupportingwomensempowermentwithavarietyof programing through organizations like NAREB and the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).The W.I.R.E. report documented the economic gains that have paved the way for the success being enjoyed by Black women, who are 6.3% of the nations population, 52% of the African American population, and 12.5% of all women. Further, 63.4% of African American women over 16 are active in the labor force, and 89.3% of Black women have graduated high school or its equivalent.Blackwomenarealsomakingtremendousstridesasentrepreneurs.According torecentdata,businessesownedbyBlackwomengrewby50%between2014 and2019,withBlackWomenaccountingfor42%ofallwomenwhoopenednew businesses during that period. In 2021, 17% of Black women were in the process of starting a new business. - 7% more than White women and 2% more than White men.The real estate industry is also witnessing a positive trend concerning diversity, with an encouraging number of Black women carving a niche for themselves in this sector.Local Board President, Muriel Williams-Thompson murieldwilliams@yahoo.com425 S. Cherry Street, Suite 105, Denver, CO 80246ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERSNAREB was formed in 1947 to secure equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has advocated for legislation and supported or instigated legal challenges that ensure fair housing, sustainable homeownership, and access to credit for Black Americans.Follow us on 8'