Claudienne Hibbert-Smith, founder and CEO of TRU Real Estate Exchange Elite, has been recognized by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) with the prestigious Top Teams Award. Her team achieved an outstanding $377 million in sales volume in 2024, placing them among the nation’s top performers. This recognition honors not only their exceptional production but also their commitment to transforming lives through homeownership.
The Miami-based African American real estate mogul leads one of South Florida’s most powerful real estate teams through EXP Realty. Her achievement reflects a dedication to expanding access to homeownership in underserved communities while building generational wealth. The award underscores her dual role as both a successful business leader and passionate community advocate.
NAREB’s recognition comes at a time when the organization’s Top 100 award winners collectively tabulated an impressive $4.7 billion in transactions in recent years. Hibbert-Smith’s $377 million contribution represents a significant portion of this total, demonstrating her team’s exceptional market impact.
Record-Breaking Sales Performance Drives Community Transformation
The $377 million milestone reflects Hibbert-Smith’s team’s systematic approach to real estate excellence and community empowerment. Her organization focuses on educating buyers and sellers about building wealth through strategic real estate investments. Additionally, they work to expand access to grants, down payment assistance, and innovative financing options for underserved communities.
Beyond impressive sales numbers, the team prioritizes developing agents into industry leaders through comprehensive training, mentorship, and proven systems. This approach creates a multiplier effect that extends their impact far beyond individual transactions. Their work fosters homeownership opportunities in communities that have historically faced barriers to real estate wealth building.
“Winning this award is about more than numbers — it’s about creating opportunities, building legacies, and proving that when we work together, we can transform entire communities,” Hibbert-Smith stated. She emphasized her commitment to carrying forward the mission of housing democracy through every deal, agent, and family they serve.
TRU Real Estate Exchange Elite Sets New Standards for Excellence
TRU Real Estate Exchange operates as a South Florida-based powerhouse real estate team built on principles of excellence, education, and empowerment. The organization specializes in helping buyers, sellers, and investors achieve their real estate goals while maximizing wealth-building potential. Their comprehensive approach addresses both immediate transaction needs and long-term financial growth strategies.
The company’s training programs focus on developing agents to maximize both their production and wealth-building potential for clients. This dual focus creates a sustainable business model that benefits both real estate professionals and their communities. Their systematic approach to agent development has contributed significantly to their record-breaking sales performance.
Hibbert-Smith brings over 20 years of real estate experience to her leadership role, having served both residential and commercial markets throughout her career. Her extensive background includes community leadership roles, including service on the City of Opa Locka Planning and Zoning Board. Furthermore, she has chaired NAREB as the local South Florida president, demonstrating her commitment to industry advancement.
NAREB Recognition Highlights Mission of Housing Democracy
Founded in 1947, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) stands as the oldest minority trade association in America. Known as the “Realtists,” NAREB was established to ensure democracy in housing and empower Black real estate professionals during an era of systematic industry exclusion. The organization continues advancing its mission by supporting African-American professionals and advocating for expanded Black homeownership.
NAREB’s Top 100 program is designed to recognize the achievements of Realtist members who are excelling in the real estate industry while also making a positive impact on their communities. This recognition highlights professionals who demonstrate excellence in their work while contributing to NAREB’s broader mission. The program aims to showcase leaders who balance commercial success with community service.
Hibbert-Smith’s recognition by NAREB underscores her influence as both a business leader and community advocate committed to housing democracy. Her work aligns with NAREB’s historical mission of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. This alignment between personal mission and organizational values amplifies the impact of her achievement.
Community Impact Extends Beyond Sales Volume Statistics
Hibbert-Smith’s approach to real estate goes beyond traditional transaction-focused models to emphasize community transformation and wealth building. Her team’s work includes educating clients about real estate as a vehicle for generational wealth creation. They provide comprehensive support including grant identification, down payment assistance navigation, and creative financing solutions.
The organization’s community impact includes fostering homeownership in areas that have historically faced barriers to real estate investment. Their systematic approach to removing obstacles and providing education creates lasting change beyond individual sales transactions. This community-focused methodology contributes to broader economic empowerment and neighborhood stabilization efforts.
“I’m honored to stand on the shoulders of those who fought for democracy in housing,” Hibbert-Smith acknowledged in her award acceptance. Her statement reflects understanding of the historical struggles for housing equality and her commitment to continuing this important work. This perspective shapes her approach to every transaction and community interaction.
Future Vision Includes Expanded Training and Media Presence
Hibbert-Smith is looking to create 1,000 new homeowners while beginning her new TV series: Everything Real Estate. This ambitious goal demonstrates her commitment to scaling her community impact through multiple channels. The television series will provide broader access to real estate education and wealth-building strategies.
Her future plans include coaching on stages across the country, focusing on topics such as creating real estate portfolios and increasing sales performance. These educational initiatives extend her impact beyond direct client service to industry-wide professional development. The coaching programs will help other real estate professionals adopt her successful community-focused approach.
The expansion of her educational and media presence positions Hibbert-Smith as a thought leader in community-focused real estate practices. Her success story provides a roadmap for other professionals seeking to balance commercial achievement with meaningful community impact. This combination of business success and social mission continues NAREB’s historical tradition of advancing both professional excellence and housing democracy.
