Mr. Lawrence Batiste is a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor with over 15 years of experience in the housing counseling field and more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. His leadership includes serving as Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), past President of the Empire Board of Realtists, and holding multiple national roles such as National Convention Chair, Executive Committee Member, Board Member, and Chief of Staff. Throughout his career, Mr. Batiste has championed equitable housing practices and advanced opportunities for minority real estate professionals.

He has previously managed all NID-HCA counseling services, including oversight for the Two Million New Black Homeowners in 5 Years (2MN5) Community Days initiative. As both a real estate Broker/Owner and a long-standing leader within NAREB, he has guided local and national boards to strengthen pathways toward homeownership and fair housing. Mr. Batiste currently serves on the NID Advisory Board and was recently appointed as a Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee Member (HCFAC) with HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling.

What We Offer

1-on-1 Counseling Services

• Rental counseling and tenant education

• Resolving or preventing forward mortgage delinquency or default

• Preventing or resolving reverse mortgage delinquency

• Personalized homeownership readiness and housing stability guidance

Group Workshops & Education Programs

• Financial literacy education

• Fair Housing workshops and awareness sessions

• Pre-purchase homebuyer education

• Community outreach and support for Atlanta and Clayton County residents

This combined approach of individualized counseling and group education reflects NID-HCA’s mission to strengthen communities by helping residents secure stable housing, build financial capacity, and move confidently toward the American Dream.