Established in 1966 by local real estate professionals, the then Jamaica Association of Real Estate Brokers and Appraisers with the acronym “JAREBA” was subsequently changed to the REALTORS® Association of Jamaica (RAJ) on January 14th, 1970, when they were accepted as affiliate members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) which has the largest membership of real estate practitioners throughout the world.

The RAJ had their inaugural meeting at the Institute of Jamaica in Kingston where there were approximately eighty (80) real estate practitioners, twelve (12) of whom had originally subscribed to form the Association.  At this meeting, Lord Ronald Graham became the first President of the RAJ.

Though fledging at the time, the Association prepared and submitted to the Government in 1968, what was considered to be a private member bill, designed to oversee the real estate business. The Association expended significant energies in lobbying for the Act until it was eventually passed in 1987. 

Today, the RAJ is the only professional organization for practicing real estate professionals throughout the island.  All its members are holders of dealers and/or salesman licensees and valuers from the Real Estate Board. As a creation of an Act of Parliament in 1987, the Real Estate Board (REB) is the statutory body which regulates the real estate industry in Jamaica.

In addition to its contribution to national policy, the RAJ sought to strengthen its corporate alliance with aligned stakeholders first of which was gaining affiliate membership with NAR. The RAJ is also a member of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (P.S.O.J) and has a seat on the Real Estate Board and the Commission of Strata Corporations. The RAJ is a powerful lobbying organization that aims to effect positive changes for affordable housing solutions, better communities, improved systems and governance of the real estate industry.

Throughout its history, the RAJ has remained consistent in its purpose, yet has progressed and matured with the times. The membership of the RAJ has grown exponentially from a small membership of under eighty (80) in 1966 to in excess of one thousand (1000) active members making it one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the country. As “The Voice for Real Estate” nationally, the RAJ works to improve the administration of the practice of real estate, promotes the ethical conduct among practitioners, provides continued educational opportunities and works to build public understanding of the importance and value of using the services of a REALTOR®.