Willie Williams honored by NAREB for 50+ year career in real estate
By Willease N. Williams
(Source: Carolina Panorama)
On September 7, 2024, the SC Chapter of NAREB (National Association of Real Estate Brokers) celebrated 50 years of service. NAREB was founded in 1947 with the motto of Democracy in Housing.
Willie Williams, Jr., one of the founding brokers to charter SC’s first NAREB chapter with four other South Carolina brokers, served as the Keynote Speaker for the 50th Anniversary Gala. He inspired the audience to unite and create opportunities to generate wealth for future generations. He explained how the times are not so different in the last 50 years.
Mr. Williams, a pioneer of many firsts, was the first Black realtor in Columbia, South Carolina and the first black person in the state of South Carolina to teach the real estate course required for real estate brokers and salesmen. He was the developer of the first townhouse condominiums in Columbia, South Carolina – Bendale. He was the first black person to own property on Two Notch Road and the first black person in Columbia to own a mobile home dealership.
Mr. Williams shared with the audience the importance of real estate being the basis of all wealth. “From Genesis to Revelations, from the time you’re born until the time you die, you will have real estate in your life.”
Mr. Williams has been a trailblazer for his community because of his passion for equal access to education, land, wealth, and business.
He will publish his life’s work in the upcoming publication God’s Builder- Lessons from the Real Estate Tai Pan.
