Keith Smith

Housing will always center on people. And that doesn’t just mean understanding demographics or behavioral psychology. For Keith Smith, his biggest brag of 2022 (after being a husband, father and grandfather) was the 23 families he helped achieve homeownership through a land trust he leads.

With affordable housing an acute challenge across the industry, Smith was able to make a huge difference in the lives of so many people, who now can enjoy the security, independence and pride that homeownership creates. With innovative solutions like the land trust gaining steam around the country, Smith used his considerable expertise and understanding to lead the way last year, making sure his work remains focused on what real estate is all about.

“It’s pretty simple. I get to wake up every morning and help others with one of the most important decisions in their lives…buying and selling their home,” he says. “Helping folks with one of the three essential requirements for our trips around the sun—food, clothing and shelter—is my ‘why.’“