Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!  

This month, we celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Latinos in the United States.  This is a dynamic group, hailing from all over the world—including Mexico, Spain, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Established under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week; it grew to be celebrated an entire month in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. 

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) is the voice of real estate for the Latino community. One goal of NAHREP is helping Latinos purchase homes and better position their families for generations to come. Owning one’s own home is a symbol of the American Dream—it’s how to build wealth. Virginia REALTORS^® is proud to partner with the NAHREP, through its Northern Virginia Chapter, and we are committed to improving the real estate industry for Latinos—and all of the population—in Virginia. 

NAHREP also produces an annual report on the State of Hispanic Homeownership in the United States. It is not surprising that the homeownership rate for this community has grown each year since 2015. Latinos represent the largest racial minority group in the United States, with over 18% of the population. In Virginia, nearly 10% of the adult population (age 18 and older) is Latino—but they only make up 5% of all Virginia REALTORS^®.  It is important to have more Latino representation in our industry—especially to meet the needs of this growing community. 

The Hispanic culture is vibrant and welcoming. Even if you are not Latino or do not speak Spanish, you can still become a part of the “familia”. For ideas on how to celebrate this month, check out 12 Hispanic Heritage Month Activities to Celebrate in 2021. 

To learn more about Hispanic Homeownership in Virginia, you can also check out this article from our Chief Economist.

Click here to send any comments or questions about this piece to Virginia REALTORS^® Senior Vice President of Community and Industry Relations Leslie Frazier.