First Hispanic CEO of a major brokerage is a keynote speaker at the NAHREP Conference
Leo Pareja didn’t set out to make history. But when you become the first Hispanic CEO of a major real estate brokerage, it’s hard to avoid the spotlight. Now at the helm of eXp Realty, a billion-dollar industry disruptor, Pareja is transforming the landscape of real estate, one deal and one innovation at a time.
“I didn’t get here by following the rules,” Pareja says with a smile that suggests he’s just warming up.
It’s a warm afternoon in Miami, and Pareja is prepping for his keynote at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) annual fall conference — an event that feels like a homecoming for him. After all, this is where his journey began: with NAHREP, where he served as its Metro D.C. chapter’s founding president before becoming the national president in 2017.
On Saturday, September 14, and in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, he’ll step onstage to address a packed room of industry leaders eager to hear his take on the state of real estate and where it’s headed.
In this YouTube video, (or click below), Gary Acosta, co-founder of NAHREP, interviews Leo in a captivating 40-minute talk on Leo’s incredible journey from a major brokerage’s No. 1 real estate agent to CEO of eXp Realty – the single largest brokerage in the world.
The CEO That Real Estate Didn’t See Coming
In an industry known for its predictable leaders, Pareja’s rise is nothing short of meteoric — and unconventional. He got his start at just 19 years old, diving headfirst into real estate while his peers were still figuring out their majors. By 28, he was the No. 1 agent at Keller Williams, having sold nearly 4,000 homes in the span of his 15-year career. But Pareja isn’t one to rest on his laurels.
“I’ve always been restless,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “I knew real estate could be more than what I was seeing.”
That restlessness led him to co-found Washington Capital Partners in 2012, transforming it into one of the largest private lending firms on the East Coast, originating over $2 billion in loans. Not satisfied with just revolutionizing the lending world, in 2016, Pareja co-founded Remine, a real estate platform that took the MLS world by storm, grabbing an 80% market share and more than 1.1 million users in record time.
While others in his position might have been content to stay behind the scenes, Pareja was just getting started. After exiting both Washington Capital Partners and Remine, he joined eXp Realty’s executive leadership.
In June 2022, he was named President of Affiliated Services, then, six months later, Chief Strategy Officer — laying the groundwork for his eventual rise to CEO. In 2024, Pareja officially took the reins from eXp World Holdings Founder Glenn Sanford, with Sanford staying on as the CEO of eXp World Holdings.
And that’s when things really started to get interesting.
Pareja Is a Voice for Change, On and Off the Stage
When Pareja speaks, people listen. Whether he’s leading discussions on real estate technology or giving a national audience a crash course in the significance of National Association of Realtors (NAR) mandate — which has radically reshaped the way agents are compensated — his ability to cut through the noise has made him a sought-after speaker in all things real estate.
In the past few months, Pareja has appeared on CNBC, CNN Business, MarketWatch, and TIME magazine, where his commentary on real estate issues and trends has set him apart as a respected thought leader.
As he takes the stage at NAHREP’s annual fall conference, it’s not lost on Pareja that he’s speaking to an audience that looks a lot more like him than most industry events.
“NAHREP is where I found my voice,” he says. “The real estate industry didn’t always make space for people like me. I’m here to make sure it does.”
And he’s doing just that. Under Pareja’s leadership, eXp Realty is not only one of the fastest-growing real estate brokerages in the world, but also one of the most diverse. His emphasis on inclusivity, paired with a relentless focus on technology, is reshaping what it means to be a real estate professional today.
His Legacy Built on Innovation and Impact
Innovation runs in Pareja’s blood. His brainchild, Remine, transformed the way agents access MLS data, making it faster, smarter, and more user-friendly. Today, he’s focused on ensuring eXp Realty remains at the cutting edge of real estate technology.
“If we’re not innovating, we’re falling behind,” he says.
But it’s not all about numbers and tech solutions. Pareja’s heart is with the people he serves — especially those who’ve been left out of the conversation for too long. In 2020, Pareja and his wife, Ariana, co-founded the Pareja Family Foundation, which provides scholarships to women and minorities to attend six-month tech boot camps. The goal? To help underrepresented individuals break into the tech industry without accruing the massive debt that often comes with a college education. The result? Many recipients see their income double or even triple.
“We want to create opportunities for people who never had a shot,” Pareja says. “It’s not just about building wealth — it’s about creating a new playing field.”
The Future of Real Estate, According to Pareja
Pareja’s leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s been recognized five times in the Swanepoel Power 200, the definitive ranking of the most influential leaders in residential real estate. In 2024, he was named a HousingWire Vanguard, solidifying his place among the industry’s most visionary thinkers.
Now, as he leads eXp Realty into the future, Pareja has his sights set on the next frontier: a real estate industry where technology doesn’t just support agents, but empowers them to be more efficient, more connected, and more inclusive. And with Pareja at the helm, that future is not far off.
“I’ve always believed real estate can be a vehicle for change,” he says, his eyes lighting up with the same passion that drove him as a 19-year-old agent. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what’s possible.”
Leo Pareja didn’t set out to break barriers – but in the process of reimagining the real estate world, he’s doing just that.
