For Bill Stewart, only one moment compares to the excitement of being elected the next Memphis Area Association of Realtors president.

The birth of his daughter.

“It’s such a privilege and honor to be voted in as president, and I just want to do my best,” said Stewart, a RE/MAX finance broker.

Stewart, 59, became MAAR’s president Jan. 1. He took over from former president Cassandra Bell-Warren, whose one-year term ended Dec. 31.

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Stewart previously served as MAAR’s president-elect for 2021. Each year, the MAAR board of directors elects a president and president-elect.

He joined in MAAR in 1999 and has served on the association’s board on and off since 2007. Stewart’s only regret is not joining MAAR sooner.

“Once, you get involved with the board … you want to do everything,” he said. “You meet so many people, you make so many new friends. It just comes naturally. It really does.”

Now, Stewart is president of one Tennessee’s largest local Realtor associations — one with more than 4,100 members. MAAR, founded in 1910, encompasses six West Tennessee counties — Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Hardin, Hardeman and McNairy.

MAAR offers its member professional development and educational opportunities, among other benefits, to further their real estate careers. For more information about the association, visit maar.org.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, residential real estate and tourism for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis real estate: Realtors association elects new president