2009 V37 4: pp. 559–598 REAL ESTATE ECONOMICS Evolution of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association 1 Patric H. Hendershott, ∗ Thomas G. Thibodeau ∗∗ and Halbert C. Smith ∗∗∗ This article summarizes the 45-year history of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association (AREUEA). It describes how AREUEA was cre- ated in the mid-1960s by a few academics interested in promoting real estate research. It tracks the Association’s growth into a highly respected international association of real estate academics and researchers employed by industry and governments. The article also examines the activities of its members: offi- cers elected, awards presented, conferences organized and scholars’ contri- butions to its main academic publication—Real Estate Economics. The article identifies the most prolific contributors to the Journal (located both in the United States and internationally) and the impact that the Journal ’s publications have had on real estate research. Finally, we describe how real estate research interests have changed over time. The American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association (AREUEA, the Association) was created in 1964 by about 20 real estate academics who wanted to provide a vehicle to foster real estate research and generally to promote real estate as an academic discipline. In 1965, AREUEA petitioned the Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) for sessions dedicated to real estate research. That December, the ASSA allocated 1 day of paper sessions (four) to the Association, and papers presented at these sessions were published as rather informal Association Proceedings. From that starting point, the Association has grown smartly in many dimen- sions. ASSA sessions increased from four to over two dozen. The Proceedings blossomed into the leading academic real estate journal. Mid-year housing ∗ Aberdeen Business School, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 2UF or phh3939@nisswa.net. ∗∗ Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO 80304 or tom.thibodeau@colorado.edu. ∗∗∗ Homer Hoyt Institute, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 or halbertcsmith@cox.net. 1 At the beginning of the writing process, Cinda Smith sent an e-mail to all AREUEA members asking for recollections and posted the request on the AREUEA Web site. An earlier version of the paper was presented at the May 2009 Homer Hoyt faculty meeting. We thank all responders for their input. C  2009 American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association