Today, women are thriving in every area of real estate.

They hold influential roles, lead major transactions, and are a significant part of shaping the future of the industry, but this was not always the case. For much of history, women faced significant barriers in real estate, and it has taken decades of work to achieve the level of success seen today. Let’s look at just how far women have come over the years, and the factors that have led to their growing success. 

When the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) was established in 1908, 100% of its membership was male. Two years after its founding, women began joining, though their membership remained limited. Those early women in real estate typically fell into one of the following categories: widows or daughters of male real estate agents, half of a husband-wife or mother-son team, or those who started as office workers or rental agents before transitioning into sales. 

As the industry evolved, women began to carve out their own space, and by 1938, the Women's Council of REALTORS® was founded to support the growing number of women in the field. More movement happened in the early 1950s when many local real estate boards began to lift restrictions on women. Most women of the era worked as sales agents rather than brokers, which still limited their ability to join NAR. As a result, the percentage of female members remained relatively low until 1973, when NAR finally opened its ranks to sales agents.

By the end of 1973, women made up 17% of NAR membership. This percentage grew to around 33% by the end of 1975, and women officially became the majority by 1978. Despite this, NAR didn’t have a female president until 1992, and women didn’t represent the majority of broker members until 1996. 

Today, women represent a substantial majority in many real estate sectors, and according to NAR, represented 65% of all REALTORS® in 2024, which is up from 62% in 2023. 

Several factors contributed to the increased presence of women in real estate with the flexibility it offers being first and foremost. Real estate can offer flexible work hours allowing women to balance personal and professional responsibilities, which can be particularly appealing to working mothers. 

Real estate also provides avenues for women to operate independently and establish their own business, and the potential for substantial earnings has attracted many women seeking lucrative career paths.

While women dominate many areas of real estate, NAR says they are still underrepresented in executive roles. In commercial real estate, women make up about 37% of the workforce. But despite these challenges, a brief look back shows just how far women have come over the years. Here are a few impressive facts from Bankrate.com. 

• The primary author of the Housing Act of 1937, known as the Wagner-Steagall Act, was a female, Catherine Bauer. 
• Three out of 17 of The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development presidential cabinet secretaries have been women. 
• While today, many women work in the title industry, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, when the American Land and Title Association (ALTA) was established in 1907, it was called the American Association of Title Men. This changed in 1923, and ALTA had its first female president in 2000.
• Before 1974, women often were not allowed to obtain a mortgage without a male cosigner. Today, women outpace men in homeownership.

These remarkable advancements are a testament to the resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of women in the real estate industry.