About Us
Our Story
Greater Nashville REALTORS® traces its roots back to 1891, when local real estate professionals first organized to formalize and elevate the industry in Nashville.
The association began as the Nashville Real Estate Exchange in 1891, later adopting the name Nashville Real Estate Board in 1907 as its role in the community expanded. In 1967, the organization became the Nashville Board of REALTORS®, reflecting alignment with the REALTOR® brand and standards, and in 1996 it transitioned to the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® to better represent its broader regional impact. Since 2017, the organization has done business as Greater Nashville REALTORS®, with a name that places the REALTOR® identity at the forefront while continuing to serve professionals across the greater Nashville area.
Our Role and Commitment
Greater Nashville REALTORS® has long played an active role in shaping the local real estate landscape, engaging in community issues while supporting members through core services that remain central even today.
Before statewide and national REALTOR® organizations existed, Nashville practitioners were already organizing locally, and the city even hosted an early attempt to form a national association of real estate boards in 1892, predating the 1908 founding of what is now the National Association of REALTORS® in Chicago. The association’s archives, maintained at the Nashville Library, document member involvement in civic, political, and social initiatives alongside a strong focus on professional service to clients and customers. Those records also show that four pillars—education and professional development, legislative advocacy across all levels of government, dispute resolution for members and consumers, and proactive communication with both the public and the membership—have remained foundational services from the association’s earliest days to the present. As a licensed real estate professional, choosing Greater Nashville REALTORS® for membership means joining an organization grounded in this long-standing commitment to service and advocacy.
MISSION
Greater Nashville REALTORS® promotes the highest standard of ethics and professionalism in the practice of real estate and is the advocate for private property rights and the interests of REALTORS® and the communities we serve.
VISION
Greater Nashville REALTORS® is recognized as the trusted voice of real estate and is respected as an essential partner in shaping healthy, dynamic neighborhoods in which all individuals, families and businesses can thrive.
FOUR KEY RESULTS
- Value to Members
- Leadership, Outreach & Advocacy
- Member and Industry Engagement
- Association Structure, Governance & Operations
Values Externally Focused Values
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
We believe that a community is strongest when all voices are heard and when all have the opportunity to grow and contribute.
We understand that real change can happen only when we are willing to question our past, take a strong stand on our beliefs, and act on those beliefs.
ACCESS TO HOUSING
We believe that every individual should have access to safe, affordable housing, and a pathway to homeownership.
ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM
We believe that every client deserves to be treated fairly and with the highest levels of ethics and professionalism.
PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS
We believe strongly in private property rights for all and the need to protect real estate investments.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
We believe that property ownership is a cornerstone of a vibrant, thriving community and an investment that can generate growth and prosperity for individuals and families for generations.
INTERNALLY FOCUSED VALUES
MEMBER SUCCESS
We support and advocate for every member’s ability to operate a profitable business and enjoy a long, successful career in real estate.
INCLUSIVITY
We believe the Association should be a place in which all members feel welcomed and are encouraged to share their perspectives, thoughts and ideas.
STEWARDSHIP
We have a responsibility to steward the resources of our members (time, talent and dollars) for the sole purpose of fulfilling our mission.
TRANSPARENT
We are open about how we operate the Association and stand behind our actions and decisions as they are driven by the needs and interests of our members.
MEMBER CONTRIBUTION
We believe that it is by leveraging the experience, expertise and perspectives of our members that we can achieve our vision for the Association, the industry and the community.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment Statement
Greater Nashville REALTORS® acknowledges that housing attainability and neighborhood access is an incredible tool for racial equity and building generational wealth. While we are an association that represents all communities, we also recognize that historically, practices and policies within the real estate industry have been used to segregate and oppress segments of our population, particularly communities of color. The negative impact of these practices continues to affect us all.
Greater Nashville REALTORS® knows it is essential for our industry to advocate for and pursue the benefits of diverse neighborhoods. As an association, we envision serving communities free of discrimination, where all residents have equal opportunity to attain housing in thriving communities with neighbors who support one another.
In support of this vision, we are committed to:
- Internal Work: We apply our commitment to our own internal policies, including but not limited to talent development, education, vendor selection, and event design. We acknowledge this is a journey and that we won’t always get it right. We are committed to learning and being held accountable by our community.
- Advocacy: We advocate for just and equitable real estate policies, including but not limited to fair housing. Racism and discrimination in the real estate industry have long term systemic effects on the housing market, the vibrancy of neighborhoods, and economic opportunities for families.
- Leadership: We lead our members and larger community by our example in transparency, commitment, and willingness to both listen and act. We use data and anecdotal evidence to document and tell the story of how inequities have and do affect REALTORS® and their clients. We are committed to bridging differences of perspective, thereby creating platforms of trust across our membership.
- Education: We provide resources, support, and learning opportunities about diversity, equity, and inclusion for our staff, board, and members, with a focus on encouraging the next generation of real estate professionals.
- Inclusion: We provide an authentic sense of belonging and acceptance to all, particularly for people that identify with groups that have been underrepresented in the association. Representation, through both formal and informal leadership opportunities, is one important step towards ensuring we fully welcome the valuable differences among our membership and staff.
- Service: We cultivate an intentional presence in under-resourced neighborhoods through our programs. We focus on educating and supporting the next generation of real estate professionals and homeowners with the goal of supporting inclusive growth.
