Black-Owned Real Estate Firms Are Buying Back the Block

January 5, 2026 Admin

Shamise Smith

Meet the Woman Buying Back the Block in Miami Gardens

*Shamise Smith, founder of 305 Miami Houses, is leading a powerful real estate revolution in South Florida. Her Black-owned real estate firm is acquiring, renovating, and renting out homes in historically Black neighborhoods. The mission? Preserve culture, fight displacement, and build generational Black wealth through community ownership.

Smith offers short-term rental stays that directly support Miami Gardens’ economic roots. Guests book on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, with proceeds helping restore the neighborhood, property by property.

305 Miami Houses Puts Ownership Back in Community Hands

Unlike big investors flipping homes for profit, Smith’s model keeps properties in Black hands. Each renovated home blends cultural authenticity with modern comforts and neighborhood pride.

“This isn’t just about real estate,” says Smith. “It’s about preserving our history and creating opportunity.” Smith is part of a broader wave of Black-led firms refusing to let gentrification erase their communities, reports BlackBusiness.com.

A community-focused street scene in Miami Gardens with a 'Sold' sign in front of a freshly restored home — A community-focused street scene in Miami Gardens with a ‘Sold’ sign in front of a freshly restored home – via GrokAI

Other Black-Owned Real Estate Projects Across the U.S.

Smith’s work in Miami Gardens mirrors other powerful projects across the country. All are rooted in the same mission: reclaiming space, preventing displacement, and building wealth.

West Woodlawn Pointe (Chicago, IL) – Five Black developers are building 30 affordable homes on formerly vacant land, hiring locally and ensuring no displacement.
Fifth Ward Buyback (Houston, TX) – Led by Jay Bradley and Chris Senegal, this project revives historic Black blocks with businesses and affordable housing.
New Orleans East & Lower 9th Ward – Local couples and leaders are reclaiming post-Katrina neighborhoods using creative programs like Mow to Own.
Buy Back the Block Lab (Brookings) – A national initiative testing scalable models for Black-led commercial real estate without gentrification.
Buy The Block Platform – A Black-owned crowdfunding site allowing collective investment in Black neighborhoods across the U.S.

More Than Homes: These Movements Preserve Culture and Power

What ties all these efforts together is a focus on ownership and identity. These aren’t just business deals—they’re cultural preservation strategies in brick and mortar form.

From Flo Rida’s shopping plaza in Miami Gardens to land banks in Chicago, the message is clear: Black developers are reclaiming space and reshaping cities, one property at a time.

A street scene showing Black developers and contractors working together - via GrokAI — A street scene showing Black developers and contractors working together – via GrokAI

How to Support Black-Owned Real Estate Movements

You can be part of the change, no matter where you live. Supporters and allies can help uplift these mission-driven efforts by:

Booking short-term stays through Black-owned platforms like 305MiamiHouses.com
Investing through group real estate platforms like Buy The Block
Partnering with community-led developers in your own city
Sharing their stories on social media to build awareness and momentum

As Shamise Smith proves in Miami Gardens, building wealth and saving communities can go hand in hand.

Why This Black Real Estate Movement Matters

The loss of Black-owned property is a major cause of wealth inequality in America. But across the country, these bold developers are flipping the narrative—literally.

They’re creating opportunity, restoring pride, and ensuring that Black communities not only survive, but thrive. This isn’t just about homes—it’s about legacy.