Wanda Williams, Broker®
Americas Dream Realty, LLC
Member of GLAR for 34 Years
Tell us why you want to be on the Board of Directors.
Williams: “I want to be on the Board of Directors to be a voice for members. I have been in the real estate industry for 34+ years and have built relationships with most of our Association members. I love to communicate with people and I feel most people love talking with me. I want to be a voice that matters. I have created a monthly networking meeting at my office and I invite other REALTORS® to attend so as to create a network space for them as well. I’m hoping to use this venue also as a way to communicate outside of Association and talk with people about what they need in their business from the Association.”
What do you think is the biggest current issue facing real estate agents?
Williams: “The biggest current issue facing real estate agents is the lack of “affordable” housing. Inflation and rising interest rates will add to this issue.”
What do you believe makes you a qualified candidate for the Board of Directors?
Williams: “I have demonstrated my leadership qualities through my position as President with the Lansing Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) and as President increased our membership in 2017 and implemented several community projects including working with the local Boys and Girls Club. I was also voted as Member of the year for Lansing WCR in 2018. In my community where I live when I saw midnight dumping occuring at the old KMart building on S. Cedar I got involved and found out why the building was sitting there idle and an eyesore. I became an advocate to convince the Lansing City Council to approve the sale of the KMart building to the Fortune 500 company known as UHaul. This advocacy took a lot of work as I took the initiative to knock on doors in my community and educate the people on why the KMart building was just sitting there for at least 5 years empty, a tax burden and an eyesore. I held press conferences and attended city council meetings and worked closely with local leaders to share the story on the negativity the empty KMart building was bringing to our community. As a result of my hard work and boots on the ground I was able to convince the City Council to make the right vote and approve the sale of the KMart building to Uhaul.
When I read about the homelessness in Tent City – I took the initiative to go and look for Tent City and befriend all of Tent City’s residents. I regularly took them food and supplies and rallied others to do so until the homeless were kicked out of the infamous Tent City.
Last, I took the initiative to start my own real estate brokerage company in 2022 and am now a proud broker/owner of Americas Dream Realty.”
In your opinion, what can the Association do to help agents or the real estate industry improve?
Williams: “The Association can help agents/real estate industry improve by building alliances with affiliate organizations to expand networking and education. Also the Association can provide more tools for agents to use in their business.”