History of the YPN

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® Young Professionals Network was founded in 2006. It supports and celebrates young real estate practitioners by giving them an opportunity to get involved in their profession and build their leadership skills.

Currently there are 160 YPN’s around the country with over 10,000 REALTOR® members. These networks are sponsored by state and local REALTOR ® associations.

These REALTORS®, association executives, association staff members, and affiliates are members who want to advance their careers and make a difference in their industry, their community, and their association.

Youth is a state of mind. There never has been, and never will be an age limit for YPN.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Young Professionals Network was started by REALTOR® magazine as an outgrowth of its popular “30 Under 30” feature. The magazine wanted to engage with young readers at a deeper level. Within a year, there was a national advisory board, and state and local associations were starting their own networks.

Today, the national YPN is a recognized structure within NAR—offering members Leadership and mentorship opportunities, an E-newsletter, webinars, the “YPN Lounge” blog, Access to an expansive referral network, and Networking events at NAR’s midyear and annual conferences.

The Michigan Association of REALTORS® has also sponsored its own YPN. The 2011/2012 GLBR YPN Chair Amy Lou Gage has been involved in this for the past 2 years, and has had the opportunity to network with some fabulous REALTORS® from around the State. It offers Young Professionals the opportunity to Lead, to mentor their peers and to grow their professions from learning from one another.

Together the Saginaw Board of REALTORS® and the Bay County REALTOR® Association has chartered a new YPN in June of this year. It is the Great Lakes Bay Regional Young Professional’s Network. We are still in the midst of pulling together a strong advisory board who will meet on a monthly basis to plan meet-ups and other activities. We have 3 advisory board chairs, and are looking for additional up and coming leaders to fill additional roles. We currently have 48 members on our roster.

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. ... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. ... They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

.... Rest in peace Steve Jobs