If you had told me years ago that I would be asked to lead the largest local REALTOR® association in Georgia, the Atlanta REALTORS® Association, I would have thought you were out of your mind. However, today I’ve been asked to do just that. The thing that makes that most rewarding to me, personally, is that the members asked me to lead them. It is a humbling experience to know that nearly 14,000 members have chosen you to lead in these unprecedented times.
This year, the platform of LOVE will be the foundation of our work. Last year was one of the toughest years for many of our members in recent history. The numbers are out and show that fewer homes closed in 2023 than in 2008. We have many members who had to make sacrifices in 2023 to continue to pursue their passion and serve their clients. I was not immune to that reality, but I also saw our REALTORS® face the inevitable and rise to the challenge.
This year, I want our members to feel loved by an association that is here to serve them and our community. I want us to focus on the needs of our members and the needs of our community. In a world where there is so much division, I want us to bring people together to help come up with solutions to our challenges.
In 2024, we know that based on current reports, we should see interest rates come down and, in fact, we already have. While this will help us encourage buyers to enter the market, we still will be faced with a shortage of inventory to keep pace with demand. This means that prices are going to continue to increase, thus limiting some buyers from the American dream of home ownership.
We, as REALTORS®, stand for protecting private property rights and being advocates for home ownership. The Atlanta REALTORS® Association will continue our focus into 2024.
Our committees are already working on events and strategies to work with our community to address affordable and equitable housing in all of the communities that we serve. We are working hard to find new and creative solutions for buyers to afford homes even as values continue to climb. We are focused on helping educate our members so they have the greatest knowledge and skillset they can as real estate professionals.
Some of the new programs on the schedule this year will include harnessing artificial intelligence in our business, navigating changes in our real estate contracts and not just focusing on the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, but also on fair housing and equality for all. We continue to build partnerships with community leaders throughout metro Atlanta to help navigate the challenges of today’s world.
You see, home is where your heart is. It is a place of shelter from the chaos of the world and where memories are made and cherished. Home serves as a reflection of someone’s life. Owning a home is still a dream of so many. Each day, I and our members get to wake up and be part of the incredible process of helping people buy and sell their homes. That is a powerful responsibility and one we do not take lightly.
It is an awesome feeling to know I get to lead such an incredible group of amazing professionals. Our members are touching the lives of thousands of people each day. If anyone has the ability to share and instill LOVE in our community, it’s our members.
This will be an amazing year for the Atlanta REALTORS® Association and metro Atlanta! I am beyond humbled and thankful to be part of such an incredible organization, and I am honored to have been asked to lead in 2024! To our members, I am grateful to serve as your 2024 president of the Atlanta REALTORS® Association.
Kelly Guin Thrash is 2024 president of the Atlanta REALTORS® Association.