The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) is a national nonprofit trade organization with more than 17,000 members across 45 chapters. Our mission is to promote sustainable homeownership for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The AANHPI population represents more than 30 countries and over 100 languages, making this one of the most diverse communities in the United States. Each year, AREAA members also advocate for fair housing in Washington, D.C., where we meet with congressional leaders during our annual Policy Summit and gather for our National Convention.

AREAA Houston’s journey

AREAA Houston was founded in April 2015 by our founding president, Dawn Lin, past AREAA National Chair Kenneth Li and a group of real estate leaders in Houston. This year marks our 10th anniversary, and I am proud to say Houston has become one of the largest chapters in the nation.

Over the past decade, we have built a strong foundation of leadership, community and service. Our chapter is unique because our membership goes far beyond residential real estate agents — we include commercial professionals, lenders, bankers, insurance providers, appraisers, inspectors, investors, contractors and many other real estate-related professionals. This diversity allows us to bring tremendous value to our members through educational events tailored to many professions, as well as networking socials held across the city.

Advocacy at the state and national level

Policy advocacy is also a vital part of what we do. Every two years, under the leadership of our founding president Dawn Lin, the Texas chapters of AREAA — Houston, Austin, San Antonio and DFW — come together to visit the State Capitol and meet with state representatives about fair housing matters. On the national stage, our annual Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., gives us the opportunity to meet with congressional leaders and advocate on behalf of the AANHPI community.

This year, we also hosted a timely Lunch & Learn on SB17, which affects both foreign ownership and all real estate practitioners in Texas. We invited policy experts and attorneys to provide factual information, helping our members stay informed about how this new law impacts their businesses.

Looking ahead

As the current president, my role is to lead AREAA Houston into its next decade of growth. I want to continue building on the strong foundation laid by our past presidents, expand our membership, and bring in more young professionals who will carry the AREAA legacy forward.

Looking ahead, I also want to strengthen our collaboration with other nonprofit organizations and serve the Houston community more broadly. By working together with our corporate sponsors, we will continue to educate and promote homeownership across the Houston area, ensuring our efforts benefit not just our members but the community at large.

Like other AREAA chapters across the country, our organization is open to everyone — you do not have to be Asian to join. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, allowing us to connect not only nationally but also internationally. My vision is for AREAA Houston to remain a place where members find valuable education, meaningful community and opportunities to grow as professionals and leaders.

Eriko Ishii is the 2025 president of AREAA Houston.