As one of the longest-standing Realtor® associations, we continue to reckon with our role in building injustice into history—specifically, the hand the Minneapolis Area Realtors® Association had in creating one of the most significant racial disparities in housing gaps in the nation. We know our industry and Association have benefited from a system that was set up to effectively lock folks out of opportunity based on race, for generations.
Decades later, that system works largely as intended, and we’re committed to championing ongoing policies and practices that will help remove barriers to homeownership for Black Minnesotans and other people of color.
Letter of Apology & Position Statement
Read the Minneapolis Area Realtors® Association Letter of Apology & Position Statement. This letter, originally published in 2022, formalized our work—both past and future—into this effort to Close the Gap.
Ongoing Work & Recommendations:
Removing Barriers to Housing and the Real Estate Industry
- Policy Recommendation: Remove Personal Buyer Information
To reduce bias in housing transactions, we recommend removing buyers’ personal information (e.g., name) from transaction process until an agreement is reached, providing a unique identifier instead. Under review by Minnesota Realtors®. - Federal Policy Change: Down Payment Assistance
MAR members recommended to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) adoption of a standing public policy supporting the development of a federal down payment assistance program focusing on first-time and first-generation homebuyers. We’re encouraged that NAR did release a recommendation supporting federal down payment assistance, and this now stands as official NAR Policy Position. This support will ultimately benefit all individuals who have struggled to achieve homeownership. - Policy Recommendation: Update Zoning Regulations
To address the housing shortage, we recommend updating residential zoning regulations to allow more duplex and triplex homes, reducing development costs and increasing affordable housing options. Ongoing with Minneapolis metro municipalities. - MAR Commitment to Pathways to Achievement Program — Minnesota Realtors® Pathway to Achievement program is designed to promote diversity within the profession by engaging more people of color and in a manner designed to enhance the long-term success in the real estate profession. MAR was a founding partner of this program, and have increased our support of the Pathway program. Though there is still much work to be done here to foster a diverse real estate industry, Pathway to Achievement reduces barrier to entry by covering association dues for the first year of membership, up to six months of MLS and lockbox fees, and educational and networking opportunities. MAR strives to grow our applicant pool in the future, proactively.
Education
- Diversity and Anti-Bias Training for Board Leadership: We will require all MAR Board members to complete diversity and anti-bias training, including the At Home with Diversity, Bias Override, and Fairhaven classes, by November 1, 2025. Starting in 2026, these will be required for all future Board Directors.
- Education Regarding Purchase Agreements Forms Change — MAR incorporated the August 1, 2022, change to Purchase Agreements into our communications and education to inform members (1) disclosure of any down payment assistance is no longer required on the forms, and (2) how the previous practice of requiring disclosure of assistance presented the potential for discriminatory decisions in real estate transactions, disproportionately impacting buyers of color. This education will help ensure Realtors® understand both the nature of their current tools, as well as how discriminatory practices have been institutionalized in the industry, inadvertently or not.
- New Member Training — MAR has added significant content around educating Realtors® about the racial housing gap into our required New Member Orientation. The approach to adding this content has been holistic, meaning that it is not only a standalone segment, but rather embedded throughout the orientation providing a racial justice lens to help new Realtors® understand the disparities in homeownership. Every new member who joins MAR going forward will learn about the historical context, association accountability, and current status of the racial homeownership gaps in Minnesota.
Community Engagement
- Supported Renaming of Edmund Boulevard:
In 2024, concerned Minneapolis residents began efforts to rename Edmund Boulevard, a city street which follows the Mississippi River in South Minneapolis. The street was named after Edmund Walton, a prominent Realtor® from the early 1900s who was infamous for creating some of the first racial covenants entered into property deeds in Minneapolis. These covenants have had terrible impacts on our communities, and Edmund Walton’s racist legacy is one that has harmed generations of Minneapolis residents. This is about more than just changing a name, it’s about who and what are uplifted and commemorated in community spaces. Work is underway with city officials to propose a new name, with community input, in 2025. - Routinely Supporting Community Events:
We have regularly tabled at community events across the Minneapolis metro, including Twin Cities Pride and the Twin Cities Diversity Homeownership Fair. We also financially support our Affinity Group partners in their efforts to provide education to Realtors® and community members. - Founding Member of Just Deeds:
Minneapolis Area Realtors® is a founding member of Just Deeds, a program providing free legal and title services for Minneapolis homeowners to discharge racially restrictive covenants from their home’s deeds. Discharging these covenants doesn’t erase the harm they caused. But facing this history is the first step for homeowners and municipalities to begin to address the adverse effects on communities of color.
Read full ongoing policy documents here.
Sign On to Close the Gap
Are you interested in supporting this work?
We invite MAR broker offices and partner organizations to click below and indicate your support for this apology, and our ongoing work to close the homeownership gap in Minnesota. We will highlight your support on this page.
Broker and Partner Supporters
