How Can Collaboration Among Women Improve Real Estate?

By Shelby Campbell

With over two and a half decades of unwavering commitment to the mortgage industry, I am your seasoned Mortgage Loan Officer dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their homeownership dreams.

How can women in the real estate and mortgage industry make things better for everyone? As a woman in the field, I know we can make meaningful changes if given the chance to grow and lead.

I talked with Rashelle Newmyer, a Realtor from Coldwell Banker and the 2024 president of the Greater Portland Women’s Council of Realtors, about the representation of women in real estate leadership roles and the importance of collaboration over competition in the industry.

How important is collaboration in our industry? Competition is natural in any industry but cutthroat in real estate. It doesn’t help that our role as agents sometimes feels isolating, adding tension to the already competitive atmosphere.

This is where the value of collaboration comes in. By sharing our knowledge and best practices with each other, we transform how we work. Together, we improve our skills and create a better overall experience for our clients.

Working with people you trust and know also makes the process more enjoyable. Collaboration is how we build relationships and a supportive network of lenders and real estate agents.

What is the Women’s Council of Realtors? The Women’s Council of Realtors is a national organization within the National Realtors Association.

It began during World War II when many men were overseas, and women took on roles traditionally held by men. When the men returned, many women wanted to keep working in these careers, including real estate. However, women weren’t allowed to join brokerages or the National Realtors Association at that time.

A small group of women formed the first council, which started in Portland, Oregon. Over 80 years later, WCR grew to about 13,000 members nationwide, with around 70 members in our local Portland network.

Why do we need this council if women can be Realtors now? That’s a fair question. When you look at the stats, only seven out of the last 116 presidents of the National Association of Realtors have been women. Plus, just 23% of brokerages are led by women, even though we represent 65% of the real estate workforce.

The WCR is all about creating leadership opportunities for women in this industry. It’s not a “man-haters” club; around 9% of our members are men. Anyone who supports women’s growth and leadership in real estate is welcome to join us.

Aside from the WCR, are there other initiatives that support women in real estate and mortgage? Rashelle and I are also a part of Leading Ladies of Real Estate where we gather women to discuss the challenges we face in this male-dominated industry.

Some may view the Women’s Council of Realtors and Leading Ladies of Real Estate as competing groups, but we see it differently. We collaborate and ensure our events don’t overlap. It’s all about working together to support and uplift one another!

How can someone join these organizations? The first step is to attend an event. Whether it’s with the Portland Metropolitan Association for Realtors or another local group, just show up. Meet new people, soak in the atmosphere, and see if it feels right for you.

If you’re curious about getting involved or have questions about the Women’s Council of Realtors or real estate in general, feel free to contact us. You can learn more about Rashelle Newmyer by visiting her personal link tree: linktr.ee/realtorrashelle. You can also contact me at (503) 809-8898 / (503) 572-8865 or shelby.campbell@fairwaymc.com. We’ll be happy to connect with you.