Melanie Gamble, the broker and owner of 212 Degrees Realty who began serving as the 79th president of the Maryland Association of Realtors on Oct. 1, is ready to collaborate with professionals across the state’s housing industry as she kicks off her yearlong tenure.
“Maryland’s housing challenges cannot be solved by any one organization or one part of the industry. We need the Association of Realtors, lenders, housing professionals, government leaders and community partners at the same table,” Gamble said in a press release. “Cooperation has to be part of the solution if we are going to create more pathways to housing and homeownership.”
Gamble brings 25 years of real estate experience and a long record of leadership at the local, state and national levels. She was the first African American woman to serve on the National REO Brokers Association Board.
The former president of the Prince George’s County Association of Realtors, Gamble has also held numerous leadership positions with Maryland Realtors Association, including secretary, District 3 vice president, RPAC trustee and chair of the Grievance Committee.
As the broker and owner of 212 Degrees Realty, LLC since 2009, Gamble has led a team serving clients in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, and holds an active broker’s license in all three jurisdictions.
She is also the author of “Unintended Consequences – The Great Recession’s Impact on Communities of Color” (2017).
As president, Gamble plans to collaborate with public- and private-sector leaders through a housing symposium developed in partnership with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (MDHCD) and real estate industry partners.
“Communication and cooperation are how we turn good ideas into meaningful results,” Gamble, whose tenure is until Sept. 30, said. “And as we do that work, we also need to celebrate the people who make this organization and our communities stronger. I want this to be a year when we work together, recognize our successes and remain focused on creating greater opportunity for Marylanders.”
Alexis Solis, the CEO of Empress Consulting and a homeowner in central Prince George’s, welcomes new leadership for the Realtors Association while hoping the organization can continue to assist new homeowners.
“As a Maryland homeowner, women-owned small business owner, and community leader, I would like to see the Maryland Association of Realtors prioritize expanding homeownership opportunities, protecting property owners, and making housing more accessible and affordable for Maryland families,” Solis, who works alongside several housing partners with her consulting company, told The Informer. “I also encourage the organization to strengthen support for small and minority-owned businesses, promote equitable access to homeownership, and address barriers facing first-time homebuyers.
The entrepreneur emphasized the importance of addressing housing challenges in Prince George’s, noting she hopes to continue to be part of the solution.
“Strong communities begin with stable housing,” she continued. “I would like to see the organization continue championing policies and partnerships that expand homeownership, help residents build generational wealth, and create thriving communities throughout our state.”
