As 30 Under 30—a National Association of REALTORS® recognition program—enters its second quarter-century, it’s tempting to think about all that has changed since its introduction in the year 2000.
Certainly, technology has transformed the way real estate professionals do business. Social media has opened the door to countless new connections. Detailed, 3D tours now allow home buyers to walk through a home without ever leaving their desk. And countless behind-the-scenes systems offer access to detailed information that once would have required hours of research and reams of paper, if it was available at all.
Take a step back, though. While the tools may change, the qualities that make an outstanding real estate professional never really do. That’s exactly what this year’s honorees drive home. Because while social media opens the doors to the world, creating meaningful connections on Facebook or Instagram or X isn’t actually that far afield from connecting in person. Be authentic. Provide value. Lead with personality and not a sales pitch. And no matter how powerful the tools are behind the scenes, it’s still the people in front of them that are the face of this profession.
This year’s honorees are doing that job as well as anyone. There were 280 applications for this year’s 30 Under 30 class, and the 30 who emerged are thriving for many of the same reasons agents and brokers have always succeeded—they are committed to creating the best possible experience for buyers and sellers. Their niches cover everything from modular homes to luxury properties, but every one of them is going out of their way to add value for their clients and their community.
For some, that means using a faculty of multiple languages to help immigrant communities navigate the homebuying process. For others, it’s leaning on a background in architecture or construction to help clients understand which fixes are worth tackling and which signal it’s time to walk away. For nearly every one of them, it involves finding a way to give back to their community through efforts ranging from food and clothing drives to creating safe places to gather together.
From those initial 280 applicants, our judges narrowed the field to 50 remarkable finalists. Then, April 8-15, we turned decision-making over to the public to award one Web Choice winner a guaranteed position in this year’s 30 Under 30. In that week, we received 37,577 total votes, nearly one-third of which (10,822) went to winner Justin Black, an associate broker with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in Breckenridge, Colo. The remaining 29 honorees were selected by our judges from the original 50 finalists. We can’t wait to introduce them to you now.
