A DIVISION OF THE
GREATER BOSTON REAL ESTATE BOARD
GBREB History
Transcript Buidling , School St.- Board’s first office
In the spring of 1889, a small group of businessmen, headed by Frederic H. Viaux, came together because of their mutual interest in a growing real estate market and its impact on the industry and the community. Thus was born the Real Estate Exchange and Auction Board. At the Board’s first meeting in 1890, presided over by Henry M. Whitney, the man responsible for the first electric trolley car in Boston, the organization already had a membership of more than 100, “including the best know real estate men of the city,” according to a newspaper account of the time.
In less than 25 years, the Board had achieved such promnence that the Boston Post, in a 1914 article, called it “second to none in the United States with regard to the influence of its membership.” In 1917, the name was changed to the Boston Real Estate Exchange, in 1944 to the Boston Real Estate Board, and finally, in 1960 to the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. The Board has undergone many changes, but the principles on which it was founded a century ago remain intact. The Board continues to foster and promote high ethical standards in all real estate transactions, monitor and comment upon legislative measures affecting real estate, protect private property rights, administer an arbitration process for settling business disputes, and provide outstanding continuing education for its membership.
Philanthropy Report 2014
& APPLICATION
GBAR donated $38,000 in grants including $25,000 to 10 local housing agencies, homeless shelters, and other non-profits which provide permanent or transitional housing; buyer counseling services; down payment and rental assistance; and substance abuse and violence prevention programming. GBAR also issued multiple grants to support the victims and property owners affected the Boston Marathon bombings, including a $10,000 donation to One Fund Boston, and $2,500 to MatchingDonors.com, a nonprofit organization that connects organ donors with those in need of organ transplants.
The Greater Boston Real Estate Board has been committed to giving back to the Greater Boston Community for the last 125 years. Each year the Board, the 5 Divisions that comprise it, and its philanthropic foundation, donate more than a quarter of a million dollars to various charities, and scholarships. Building value is paramount to success in real estate, and building value in communities to enhance the quality of life is at the forefront on the Greater Boston Real Estate Board’s philanthropic mission. Greater Boston Real Estate Board Foundation is the charitable entity through which all philanthropy in the Boards 5 Divisions is managed. The Foundation also offers a scholarship program to high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence and financial need. There are currently 55 students in the program, divided evenly between Boston and the 54 surrounding municipalities. The scholarships are 2 year commitments. In 2013, the GBREB Foundation awarded over $110,000 in scholarship awards. GBREB also contributed $25,000 to New Lease a program to eliminate family homelessness, bringing the total contribution to New Lease to $50,000 in 2013.
Each year REFA hosts a Golf Tournament raising money for two local charities. In
2013
$24,000
was
raised
for
HomeStart and Project Hope. The REFA Emerging Leaders participate in 2-3 volunteer
opportunities
the
including
year
throughout
charities
such
as The Greater Boston Food Bank and Heading Home. presented
HomeStart
In 2013, REFA Inc.
with
a
$1,500 donation.
CBA made a $10,000 donation to Caritas Communities, a not-for-profit,
RHA
donated
$20,000
to
a
non-sectarian provider of housing for
fund
low-wage workers. This brings CBA’s
established to benefit an RHA member who was severely injured in the Marathon
BOMA Boston is committed to giving back to the
cumulative giving to Caritas, since 2005,
bombings. RHA also contributed $25,000
community. In addition to community service activities
to $175,000. Forty-one CBA Future
to New Lease, a program initated to
and holiday toy drives – the BOMA Benefit is the annual
Leaders donated their time for fall yard
eliminate family homelessness.
fundraiser that raises money on behalf of local charities.
cleanups and interior painting at six
Since 1989, BOMA Boston has raised over $900,000
Caritas Communities residential locations
for local charitable causes, including City Year Boston,
in Boston and the inner suburbs.
Habitat for Humanity, My Brother’s Keeper, Home Start, Rosie’s Place and many more.
MARCH 22, 1889
The Real Estate Exchange and Auction Board is incorporated, received its charter from Oliver Ames, Governor of the Commonwealth.
May 29, 1889
The first meeting of the organization’s incorporators in held at the Equitable Building in Boston and is adjourned due to the lack of a quorum.
1890
The Exchange establishes the Arbitration Committee to settle business disputes. This Committee is still recognized as one of the most important services provided to members by the Board.
May 24, 1914
The Boston Sunday Post says the Exchange is “ the most influential real estate organization in the country,” and notes, “As real estate in Boston pays over four-fifths of the city’s income from taxes, it may be fairly said that the interests of real estate are paramount and that no commercial or other property interests stand in greater need of a strong alliance through association for betterment and defense than the manifold and varied land interests…Real estate deserves and requires a strong and virile alliance for the general welfare.”
January 1915
The Exchange joins the National Association of Real Estate Boards, now the National Association of Realtors.
The World War I Years
The Exchange raises an ambulance fund. Supports Liberty Loan Drives, and is extremely active in efforts to alleviate the effects of the tremendous coal and oil shortages caused by the war.
1932
An innovation at the Annual Banquet in the admittance of women for the first time, but they are only allowed to sit in the balcony and are not invited to eat dinner.
1934
Due to the effects of the Great Depression, membership figures of the Exchange sink to an all-time low of 471, from the 1926 peak of nearly 700 members. It is not until 1946 that membership levels will again reach the 1926 mark.
1944
The Exchange is re-named the Boston Real Estate Board, and during this year the Board registers a strong protest against staggering increases in assessments of commercial and apartment property in Boston, since the incomes from apartments have been frozen under rent control for two years.
August 1955
The Board’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is established by a small group of members.
1960
The Boston Real Estate Board is given its present name, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.
1968
Massachusetts Governor, John Volpe signs the first bill in the country to provide home-ownership opportunities to low-income families. The bill was a direct result of an article written for GBREB’s Realtor Magazine.
1994
GBREB Foundation is established as a way to help those in need throughout Massachusetts by contributing donations to local charities. • A ballot question repealing rent control is approved by voters.
2010
A ballot question to repeal MGL 40B, the state Affordable Housing Law, is defeated by a 20% margin.
2011
The Greater Boston Real Estate Board establishes a Scholarship Program to serve college bound students of high academic ability and in financial need. The Scholarship is established through the GBREB Foundation.
2014
GBREB celebrate’s it’s 125th Anniversary!
C E L E B R ATI N G
Y EA RS O F T H E G R EAT E R BOSTO N R EA L ESTAT E BOA R D
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SILVER SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS NEW ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT
A.W. PERRY, INC. | BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH BEACON COMMUNITIES, LLC | BOSTON LAND COMPANY COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | THE DOLBEN COMPANY, INC. THE DRUKER COMPANIES | EASTERN BANK | EQUITY RESIDENTIAL FIRST RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CO. | MCCALL & ALMY, INC. MURTHA CULLINA, LLP | NEI CONSTRUCTION
RELATED BEAL
NIXON PEABODY, LLP | THE SCHOCHET COMPANIES
WINN DEVELOPMENT
BRONZE SPONSORS AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC. | BOWDITCH & DEWEY, LLP BROOKFIELD OFFICE PROPERTIES | CASSIDY TURLEY CHARLESGATE REALTY GROUP | CHARLES RIVER REALTY INVESTORS DELLBROOK CONSTRUCTION, LLC | H.N. GORIN, INC. HAMMOND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE | HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP KEITH CONSTRUCTION | NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERRY BROKERAGE ASSOCIATES | SHAVEL & KREMS, LLP
CELEBR ATING
YEARS OF THE GREATER BOSTON REAL ESTATE BOARD