Founded in 1888, the Denver Board of REALTORS® is the oldest real estate trade association in Colorado. The Denver Board of REALTORS® represents approximately 3,700 REALTORS® in the Denver metropolitan area.
Over 100 years ago, an organization known as the Real Estate Exchange was reorganized and renamed the Colorado Real Estate Exchange. This change, which was brought about to “better suit the changed condition of the real estate business” in Denver, was the beginning of the Denver Board of REALTORS®.
One year later, the Colorado Real Estate Exchange was changed to the Denver Real Estate Exchange. The interest in mining and mining stocks in Colorado at that time brought about another name change in 1892 to the Denver Real Estate and Stock Exchange. This name, however, didn’t last and the organization returned to its former name, the Denver Real Estate Exchange, in the late 1890’s.
When the Denver Real Estate Exchange was started, the population of Denver was approximately 65,000. The Leadville boom was on and famous names such as Tabor and Cheesman were investing in Denver real estate. Denver was growing and the Real Estate Exchange was making a big contribution to that growth.
Not long after the Exchange was started, the real estate boom suffered an enormous setback when the panic of 1893 hit Denver. Many banks closed their doors – only a few survived. The Building and Loan Association had so much property come back to them they became property poor. REALTORS® who had built up business in rentals, insurance or small loans survived. Many speculators, however, went bankrupt. By 1904 the Denver economy was back on the rise and the city began to come into full bloom. Many city parks were established at that time. The acreage of park land in Denver was increased from 572 acres to 1183. Public spirit was high and many people made financial gifts to the city to help install things of beauty. The Denver Real Estate Exchange was instrumental in bringing about much of this civic improvement. Committees were appointed to consider various problems in Denver and make recommendations.
The Real Estate Exchange remained active in all phases of Denver’s growth-the building of a civic center, the establishment of City Park and many other improvements in the city throughout this time. In 1927, the exchange was changed to its present name – The Denver Board of REALTORS®.
