Nation of Realtors (R)

Home ownership is central to the American dream, and Realtors(r) are its agents, there to make the dream a reality. Telling the story of the rise of the Realtors(r), Jeffrey M. Hornstein presents a lively history of the evolution of real estate brokerage in twentieth-century America. He describes how real estate agents turned what was, at the turn of the last century, not a particularly reputable occupation into a respected profession, and then expanded the market for their services by cultivating the connection between home ownership and middle-class status. At the same time, he explains how real estate brokerage became a predominantly female profession, providing many women with a means of financial independence following the Second World War. Hornstein draws on trade journals, government documents on housing policy, demographic data, and examinations of fictional accounts of real estate agents. He chronicles the early efforts of real estate brokers to establish their profession by claiming an expertise; creating local and national boards, business practices, ethical codes, and educational programs; and working to influence laws from local zoning ordinances to national housing policy. A Nation of Realtors(r) is a unique history of the development of a profession and its enormously successful effort to make the owner-occupied, single-family home a key element of twentieth-century American identity.