Mercado Joins eXp Realty as Real Estate Agent
In a move that underscores a broader push toward inclusive leadership in real estate, eXp Realty announced Carmen Mercado has joined the company as a real estate agent. Mercado brings more than two decades of experience in residential real estate, housing finance and affordable lending to a company known for its agent-centric, cloud-based model.
Mercado’s Deep Experience and Roles
Mercado’s career spans leadership roles in brokerage development, training and policy work on housing access. She served as the national president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and previously led affordable lending efforts at Freddie Mac. Her background also includes time as a broker, trainer and a New York Department of State-certified real estate instructor. Her work has earned recognitions, including a spot on HousingWire’s annual Women of Influence list.
- More than 20 years in residential real estate and housing finance
- Roles include broker, trainer, growth strategist and certified instructor
- Past leadership at Freddie Mac and NAHREP
Mercado entered real estate in 2002 after a difficult first-time homebuying experience with her husband, a military veteran. The experience, she has said, prompted a pivot from a Wall Street path to one centered on helping families navigate a sometimes opaque buying process.
The Strategic Angle: Realty Adds Former NAHREP
This move illustrates how realty adds former nahrep to leadership in a major brokerage. eXp says Mercado will build her own team within the company’s agent network and expand both residential and investor business lines, while engaging with corporations, nonprofits and industry partners on development initiatives.
What This Means for eXp and the Market
For eXp Realty, Mercado’s arrival aligns with a market environment where brokerages are doubling down on training, inclusive lending practices and community partnerships. The company says her role will emphasize growth in markets with inventory constraints and affordability pressures, while broadening access to homeownership through strategic partnerships and education programs.
- Mercado will lead a dedicated team within eXp’s expansive agent network
- Focus areas include residential and investor clients
- Outreach will extend to nonprofits, corporations and housing partners
Mercado Speaks: A Personal Mission to Expand Access
Mercado framed the move as a continuation of a career built on expanding access to homeownership and developing teams that can mentor others. 'Throughout my career, I’ve learned that success comes from preparation, not luck, and that readiness unlocks opportunity,' she said in a brief interview. Her remarks underscored a broader industry goal of making real estate more inclusive and transparent for buyers and sellers alike.
Pareja added, 'Carmen has spent her career pushing the industry to be more inclusive and better prepared for what’s ahead. We’re not just bringing on a leader; we’re welcoming someone who has spent her career making other people better at this business.'
Mercado’s addition also signals an ongoing shift within the broker ecosystem toward leveraging leaders with regulatory and policy insight, as well as hands-on sales experience, to shape training platforms and lender collaboration.
Industry Impact: A Growing Trend in Leadership
Industry observers say the recruitment highlights a broader trend in which brokerages seek leaders who can bridge policy, finance and frontline sales. The presence of a former NAHREP president with a background at Freddie Mac is likely to influence lending practices, training curricula and community partnerships across eXp’s global agent network.
Next Steps and Growth Plans
Mercado said she plans to use her platform to grow her own team and expand services for both residential customers and investors. She will also pursue business development with corporations, nonprofits and industry partners to broaden the reach of affordable housing initiatives and to deepen education around the homebuying journey.
About Carmen Mercado and eXp Realty
A former NAHREP national president, Mercado led affordable lending efforts at Freddie Mac before transitioning to a real estate career. Her entry into eXp Realty adds a leadership voice with a proven track record in creating inclusive, education-driven growth for buyers and agents alike. The move comes as the housing market continues to navigate higher financing costs, tighter supply and evolving policy landscapes in the United States.
As of mid-2026, eXp continues to emphasize its growth through strategic hires and partnerships that align with a broader industry push toward accessible homeownership and consistent agent development. Mercado’s arrival reinforces that direction and places a high-profile advocate for affordable housing at the heart of the firm’s expansion strategy.
Observers note that realty adds former nahrep to prominent brokerages may become a more frequent theme in a market where leadership experience in lending policy and community outreach is increasingly valued alongside traditional sales credentials. With Mercado’s background, eXp aims to turn that trend into concrete recruitment success, expanded services and stronger community relationships.
Discussion