by Kathy Woodward, SIOR
2008 KCRAR President

Over the past 100 years, REALTORS® in the Kansas City metropolitan area have been involved in the buying, leasing, selling, managing and building of commercial and residential real estate in the city and/or region we now call home.

The Real Estate Board was the successor of the Real Estate and Stock Exchange which was founded in 1885 with 62 firms as members.  The Real Estate Board of Kansas City, Missouri, was incorporated in 1900 and became affiliated with the National Association of Real Estate Boards in 1908.
 

The National Association of REALTORS® was founded as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges on May 12, 1908, at the YMCA Auditorium in Chicago.  The earlier attempts (beginning in 1891) of organizing a national real estate group had been unsuccessful.

With 120 founding members, 19 boards (including Kansas City, MO), and one State Association, the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges’ objective was “to unite the real estate men of America for the purpose of effectively exerting combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests.”

In addition to being one of the founding members of the National Association of REALTORS®, Kansas City REALTORS® made history by hosting the NAR Convention during its 13^th year in existence.
 

In June 1920, the 13^th Annual Convention of the National Association of Real Estate Boards was held in Kansas City at the Convention Hall located at 13^th & Central.  The convention began on Tuesday, June 1, with manager meetings at the Muehlebach Hotel; and concluded with an informal get-together, songfest and a “smoker” – an informal gathering – in the St. Francis Room of the Baltimore Hotel. 

The days of “smokers” (and real estate men only) may be long gone, but the days of Kansas City REALTORS® exerting influence are here to stay.  I hope you’ll join me this year in taking pride in our rich history as a REALTOR® organization – and looking forward to creating more history each and every day.