About the Perimeter East Association of REALTORS®

A Legacy of Professionalism, Leadership & Service

For more than six decades, the Perimeter East Association of REALTORS^® (formerly DeKalb REALTORS®) has served real estate professionals and the communities they represent through education, advocacy, leadership, and professional development.

Our Association traces its roots to the 1950s, when a group of local real estate professionals came together to strengthen organized real estate in DeKalb County. Chartered by the National Association of REALTORS^® in 1957, the organization built a longstanding tradition of promoting professionalism, upholding the REALTOR^® Code of Ethics, protecting private property rights, and helping members succeed in a changing real estate industry.

Today, PEAR proudly carries forward that legacy while embracing a broader geographic identity and the evolving needs of the communities we serve. Our commitment remains the same: providing members with the resources, relationships, education, and representation they need to grow their businesses and serve the public with excellence.

Connecting REALTORS® to Success

Membership in the Perimeter East Association of REALTORS^® is about more than belonging to a professional organization. It provides opportunities to connect with fellow real estate professionals, strengthen industry knowledge, develop leadership skills, advocate for property owners and the real estate industry, and make a meaningful impact in our communities.

Through continuing education, professional development, networking opportunities, committees, leadership programs, community outreach, and governmental affairs, the Association gives members opportunities to become more informed, more connected, and more engaged in their profession.

PEAR also provides a place where REALTORS^®, Affiliates, industry partners, and community leaders can come together to exchange ideas, address challenges facing real estate, and build relationships that strengthen both the profession and the communities we serve.

Our Mission

Empowering Members to advocate for success by leading with excellence, fostering education, community involvement, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We Set the P.A.C.E. for REALTOR® Success

P – Promoting community engagement

A – Advocacy for private property rights, property ownership, and the real estate industry

C – Connecting our members to leadership opportunities

E – Exceptional education delivered for success

Building on a Rich History

Originally known as the DeKalb Board of REALTORS® and later the DeKalb Association of REALTORS®, our organization has a proud history of serving real estate professionals throughout DeKalb County and surrounding communities.

Since receiving its charter from the National Association of REALTORS® in 1957, the Association has been shaped by generations of REALTORS® whose leadership, volunteerism, and dedication have helped advance the profession.

That history includes important milestones in leadership and inclusion. In 1975, Porter and Bobbie Sanford became the Association's first Black members, helping pave the way for greater representation within the organization. Bobbie Sanford would later become the Association's first Black woman President and continued serving the REALTOR® organization at the local and state levels.

On January 30, 2025, the Association formally approved the Perimeter East Association of REALTORS® name, reflecting its evolving geographic identity and commitment to serving today's interconnected real estate marketplace.

Today, PEAR proudly carries forward this legacy while continuing to welcome new voices, develop future leaders, and strengthen the real estate profession and the communities we serve.

Your Association. Your Profession. Your Community.

Whether you are beginning your real estate career, growing an established business, developing your leadership skills, or looking for new ways to serve your profession and community, the Perimeter East Association of REALTORS^® is here to help you connect, engage, and succeed.