NAREB Developers Academy
By equipping Realtists members with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to scale as developers. The program aims to expand economic opportunity, boost homeownership rates, and support the revitalization of communities in need.
Through a rigorous curriculum, strategic partnerships, and a community-centered approach, the NAREB Developers Academy is building a sustainable pipeline of skilled real estate developers prepared to lead projects that create lasting economic and neighborhood impact.
Phase III
Geographic focus and community identification
The program is a national initiative open to all NAREB members in good standing and will feature in-person opening and closing sessions at NAREB’s 2026 Mid-Winter and 2026 National Conferences. The remaining modules will be conducted via instructor-led Zoom sessions/modules.
- Applications for Phase III are open.
- Phase III will begin in February 2026
- Featuring in-person opening and closing sessions at NAREB’s 2026 Mid-Winter and 2026 National Conferences
- The remaining modules will be conducted via instructor-led Zoom sessions from March 2026- July 2026
Key Dates
In-Person Kickoff - Tulsa, OK
Monday, February 16, 2026
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Virtual Sessions (12)
- March 4, 2026
- March 18, 2026
- April 1, 2026
- April 15, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- May 6, 2026
- May 13, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 22, 2026
The reserved time for the cohorts’ virtual meetings are every other Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in your respective time zone with the exception of Cohort 1 and Cohort 6 (Alabama, Georgia, Florida), which will meet from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
In-Person Close Out - Las Vegas, NV
July 2026
Cohort Locations
Cohort 1
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Pennsylvania
Cohort 2
New York and New Jersey
Cohort 3
Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma
Cohort 4
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina
Cohort 5
Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi
Cohort 6
Alabama, Georgia and Florida
Cohort 7
Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Cohort 8
Indiana, Michigan and Ohio
Program Duration and Certification:
Participants will join a six-month cohort-based program. The cohort size will consist of 20-25 participants. Upon completing the program, participants will receive a certification from the NAREB Development Fund. The certification package will include a certificate, copies of all course materials and resources, access to program instructors and inclusion in the NAREB internal cohort network forums.
Geographic focus and community identification: The program is a national initiative open to all NAREB members in good standing. The program will feature in-person opening and closing sessions at NAREB’s Mid-Winter and National Conferences. The remaining modules will be conducted via instructor-led Zoom sessions. As part of the application process, we will consider development experience and aptitude as well as geographic location information.
Program Details
Phase III of the the Academy will be based on grouped regional cohorts. Each application received will be scored by an internal selection committee. The committee will be accessing each application to determine development experience, interest, and opportunities to develop that the applicant has access to.
Full scope of coursework: The program includes 14 modules covering various aspects of real estate development. The modules are as follows:
- Development Process I
- Development Process II
- Real Estate Products
- Cycles of Development
- Development Risks
- Development Team
- Market Research
- Land Control and Government Regulations
- Pre-Development
- Understanding Development Capital
- Financing Phase
- Environmental/Green/Sustainability
- Land Development in Underserved Areas
- Becoming a Real Estate Development Consultant