Congratulations to HAR President & CEO Bob Hale, recipient of Inman's 2025 Nate Ellis Award!
It is the highest honor bestowed by Inman to individuals who have made a lasting impact through service and giving back to the community.
Bob Hale has been the President and CEO of the Houston Association of REALTORS® since 1988. Through Bob's leadership, HAR has grown to become the largest trade association in Houston and second largest local REALTOR® association in the country,
with more than 48,000 residential and commercial members. Thanks to his vision and drive, HAR.com is the most frequently visited local website for real estate, with more than seven million unique visitors each month.
As the Chief HAR/HRIS strategist and visionary, Bob provides coordination and collaboration between the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and staff to ensure that HAR objectives are aligned with leadership opportunities. He led HAR during the COVID-19 pandemic, turning HAR into a virtual workforce and delivering virtual members services, training and technology tools.
Industry Achievements and Recognitions:
2024 – Houston Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement of Real Estate Award recipient
2014-2024 – Swanepoel Power 200 list (ranked #29 in 2024)
2024 – Ranked on the 2024 Inman Power Players
2021 – Appointed to Pacaso Advisory Board
2020 – RISMedia Newsmaker Hall of Fame inductee
2018 – Most Admired CEO, Houston Business Journal
2003/2006 – Recognized by NAR as “25 Most Influential People in Real Estate” (last two times the list was published)
2005-2015 – Recognized by Inman News as one of the “Most Influential Real Estate People”
2008 – Inman “Innovator of the Year” Award
2007 – Inducted into the “RPAC Hall of Fame”
2012 – Recognized by RPAC for investing more than $50,000
2008 – Mayor Bill White proclaimed August 18th as the “Bob Hale Day” in Houston
2013 – Mayor Annise Parker proclaimed October 25th as “Bob Hale Day” in Houston
