Through advocacy and bold leadership, Keller Williams agents aren’t just opening doors of opportunity for their clients today; they are ensuring the future of housing remains strong for years to come.
Meet the industry leaders.
Julia Israel
KW Minneapolis Lakes, Productivity Coach and Broker
2017 – 2019 Twin Cities NAREB
President, Founding Member
Leadership Focus:
Bridging the Gap
Julia Israel is a dynamic leader and passionate advocate for advancing homeownership in minority communities. While affordability and low inventory issues impact hopeful homeowners across the board, data reveals minority communities are hit hardest:
- The black homeownership rate is currently 30.5 percentage points lower than non-Hispanic whites (72.2%) and 22 percentage points lower than the national homeownership rate of 63.7%.
- Asian-American and Pacific Islander homeownership lags behind the national average as well by 6%, and behind non-Hispanic whites by nearly 15%.
Determined to reverse the statistics, Israel is infusing her leadership and training expertise, gleaned from over 15 years at Keller Williams, into her volunteer roles.
She teaches The Role of Diversity Marketing in Real Estate through
the Minnesota Association of Realtors, founded the Twin Cities NAREB
chapter, and sits on the National Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity
Committee.
“As Realtors, we are equipped with knowledge and information to help build and develop our communities,” she shares. “To me, volunteerism is a civic duty.”
Dustin Luce
Co-founder, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals
CEO & Broker, The Advance Team
Leadership Focus:
Homes for Heroes
When colleague Son Nguyen approached Dustin Luce in 2011 to co- create a nonprofit organization to help veterans and active-duty military experience homeownership, he didn’t think twice.
In the months that followed, the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) was established. Its mission – to increase homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for active-military and veteran communities. With 45 chapters nationwide, the organization has donated 34 mortgage-free homes, distributed $70,000 in housing assistance grants, placed 1,000 veterans in homes, and more.
Luce credits his experience at Keller Williams as the gateway to VAREP: “Keller Williams set the stage for the opportunity to create and grow VAREP,” he shares. “Having the opportunity to sit on the Associate Leadership Council and run a Keller Williams office were key steps that brought me here. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this company.”
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