Seaside Dunes Townhomes

Today, I was reminded — in the ugliest way — of the reality so many of us face as Black professionals, especially those of us who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, working in real estate in Palm Beach County.

While out doing my job as a licensed real estate broker in Delray Beach, specifically in the Seaside Dunes community, I was approached by a white male with a dog who began yelling at me, telling me to “get out of his neighborhood.” He wasn’t a police officer. He wasn’t security. Yet he felt entitled to confront me, question my right to be there, and ultimately call the police — all because he didn’t like the sight of a Black woman, a Black REALTOR®️, in what he clearly felt was “his” space.

And yes — he used a racial slur. Loudly.

I asked him if he was law enforcement. Of course, he wasn’t. The Delray Beach police arrived, and thankfully, they saw through his behavior. They confirmed that I was a real estate broker and reminded him that he does not own the street. But here’s the thing — the damage was done.

This is far from an isolated incident. As a queer REALTOR®️®️, woman REALTOR®️, and Black REALTOR®️ working in Palm Beach County, I’ve encountered racism in multiple forms:

• Blatant discrimination — like what happened today.
• Subtle gatekeeping — agents telling me a property “isn’t available” when it actually is, because they assume my clients are Black.
• Discriminatory HOA practices — where communities impose credit score minimums, demand photo IDs of buyers, and require board approval for residency — even after a buyer has been fully approved by a lender and accepted by a seller. Let’s be honest: what exactly are they approving? It’s not financial qualification — it’s people. And it’s often about keeping certain people out.

When I teach Fair Housing classes, I talk about disparate impact — rules and practices that seem neutral but disproportionately harm minorities. What I face as a REALTOR®️ is exactly what I teach about. The HOA approval processes, the photo ID requirements, and the arbitrary credit score thresholds are all tools of exclusion.

Seaside Dunes is a beautiful oceanfront community in Delray Beach. But beauty doesn’t erase the ugliness of racism when it rears its head.

I am exhausted. Exhausted from navigating a state where so much energy is spent finding new ways to exclude people — people like me, people I represent, people who deserve the same access and dignity as anyone else.

Real estate is more than just buying and selling homes — it’s about building communities. But how do we build inclusive communities when the gatekeepers are actively working to keep them exclusive?

I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m sharing this because racism, homophobia, and systemic discrimination are alive and well here. And if you think it doesn’t happen in neighborhoods like Seaside Dunes in Delray Beach — it does. I lived it today.

If you are a buyer, seller, or fellow REALTOR®️ who believes in equity, fairness, and true community, I will always stand with you. But I will also always speak the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially then.

Because silence in the face of racism isn’t an option. Not for me. Not ever.

Information of the "human" who did this to me:

Brandon Shaver

Delray Beach, FL

Affliated Companies: EVA Airways, Recovery Fitness Tribe and Broadway Health & Wellness

Tori Easterling
Black REALTOR®️   LGBTQ+ REALTOR®️
Serving Palm Beach County, including Delray Beach, Seaside Dunes, and surrounding communities