CREN
CREN (Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast) is a Houston-based 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1972 that operates a membership networking organization for commercial real estate practitioners, generating revenue from $99-$199 annual memberships and event sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CREN does
CREN (Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast), legally known as Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast, is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership organization founded in 1972 in Houston, Texas. Originally established as The Texas Equity Marketing Network and subsequently renamed The Houston Property Exchange, the organization rebranded to CREN in 2019 to reflect its broadened regional scope across the Gulf Coast. CREN operates as a community-led networking platform that brings together commercial real estate practitioners—including licensed brokers, salespersons, lenders, attorneys, title companies, and service providers—to learn, grow their businesses, and facilitate deal-making through monthly in-person events and educational programming.
The organization's core offering is a two-tier annual membership program: a $99/year Member tier for licensed real estate brokers and salespersons and a $199/year Affiliate Member tier for non-broker industry participants, both billed annually without automatic recurring payments. CREN supplements membership revenue with event sponsorships, including tiered bowling tournament sponsorships ranging from $250 (Lane Sponsor) to $1,200 (Bar Sponsor), and broader partnership arrangements with firms such as Plains Capital, CommGate, Flying Locksmiths, Rafail Insurance Agency, Gulf Coast Risk Management, TK Images, and Primerica. Programming consists of monthly luncheons with industry speakers, happy hours, clay shoots, bowling tournaments, and an annual holiday party, alongside an educational blog/insights platform published on the organization's website.
CREN is governed by a volunteer board of directors comprising President Quenton Rockwell (Rockwell Commercial Group), Vice President Caryn Craig, MBA (Keller Williams Memorial), Treasurer Reginald Chambers (Smart Financial Credit Union), and Past President Cotton Munson (Rockspring), plus five additional directors. The organization operates without external venture capital or parent company backing and generates revenue solely from membership dues and event sponsorships. Distribution is direct via website enrollment with PayPal processing, and growth is driven primarily through word-of-mouth referrals and cross-referrals with peer CRE organizations (BACREN, CREAM, CREW). The organization does not develop proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities; it is fundamentally a community-and-events business.
CREN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CREN
- Legal name
- Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast
- Website
- https://crengulfcoast.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CREN (Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast) is a Houston-based 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1972 that operates a membership networking organization for commercial real estate practitioners, generating revenue from $99-$199 annual memberships and event sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CREN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Real Estate Networking Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Real Estate Asset Management (BPAJAMAB)
Keywords
Where CREN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CREN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions providing access to networking events, market insights, and the professional community of commercial real estate practitioners in Houston. Two tiers: $99 for licensed real estate brokers/salespersons, $199 for non-broker affiliates. No automatic recurring payments.
- Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated through event sponsorship opportunities. Sponsors pay varying amounts for different sponsorship tiers at events such as bowling tournaments, with options ranging from Bar Sponsor ($1,200) to Lane Sponsor ($250).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Member (Real Estate Broker/Salesperson) - $99/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Member (non-RE Broker/Salesperson) - $199/year |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bar Sponsor - $1,200 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pizza Sponsor - $500 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Lucky Strike Trophy Team Sponsor - $400 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Lane Sponsor - $250 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
CREN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CREN is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit networking organization that sells annual memberships (a $99/year tier for licensed real estate brokers/salespersons and a $199/year Affiliate Member tier for industry affiliates such as lenders, attorneys, and service providers) and operates a year-round calendar of in-person events including luncheons, happy hours, bowling tournaments, clay shoots, and holiday parties. The organization also runs a partnership/sponsorship program for companies seeking visibility in the Houston commercial real estate community and publishes blog/insights content on the industry.
Product overview
CREN (Commercial Real Estate Network Gulf Coast) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit networking organization, not a software technology company. Its core offering consists of membership programs—Member tier ($99/year for licensed real estate brokers and salespersons) and Affiliate Member tier ($199/year for industry affiliates)—alongside a robust events program featuring monthly luncheons, happy hours, bowling tournaments, sporting clay shoots, and holiday parties. The organization also provides a blog/insights content platform and a partnership/sponsorship program for businesses seeking visibility among Houston's commercial real estate community. Founded in 1972, CREN operates as a traditional membership-based trade association focused on connecting commercial real estate professionals through in-person networking events and industry education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CREN Membership - Member (Real Estate Broker/Salesperson) Annual membership tier priced at $99 (USD) for licensed real estate brokers and salespersons providing access to CREN's networking events, monthly luncheons with industry speakers, market discussions, and the organization's community of dealmakers. Subscription period is one year with no automatically recurring payments.
- CREN Membership - Affiliate Member (non-RE Broker/Salesperson) Annual membership tier priced at $199 (USD) for non-licensed real estate brokers and salespersons, including industry affiliates such as lenders, attorneys, title companies, insurance agencies, and service providers. Subscription period is one year with no automatically recurring payments.
- CREN Events Program Year-round events calendar including monthly luncheons with industry speakers, happy hours, bowling tournaments, sporting clay shoots, and holiday parties, designed to facilitate networking and relationship-building among Houston commercial real estate professionals.
- CREN Blog/Insights Educational blog content covering commercial real estate networking strategies, industry trends, and professional development authored by CREN leadership and members, accessible through the website.
- CREN Partnership/Sponsorship Program Business partnership and sponsorship opportunities for companies seeking visibility among Houston commercial real estate professionals, including tiered event sponsorships such as Bar Sponsor ($1,200), Pizza Sponsor ($500), Lucky Strike Trophy Team Sponsor ($400), and Lane Sponsor ($250) at CREN events, plus brand promotion across CREN channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- Majority of members refer business to one another annually, translating to thousands in commissions per member.
Companies that use CREN
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CREN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CREN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Plains CapitalminorPartner/sponsor of CREN events and initiatives. Provides financial support enabling CREN to host networking events and programs for the commercial real estate community.
- CommGateminorPartner/sponsor of CREN events and initiatives. Supports the commercial real estate networking community through event sponsorship.
- Flying LocksmithsminorPartner/sponsor of CREN events and initiatives. Supports the commercial real estate networking community.
- Rafail Insurance AgencyminorPartner/sponsor of CREN events. Supports the commercial real estate networking community through event sponsorship.
- Gulf Coast Risk ManagementminorPartner/sponsor offering certificate of insurance tracking compliance services to CREN members.
- TK ImagesminorPartner/sponsor of CREN events providing visual documentation of events and activities.
- John Brucato - PrimericaminorIndividual partner representing Primerica financial services as a sponsor of CREN events.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
CREN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CCIM Institute: National association for commercial real estate investment professionals offering networking, education, and the CCIM designation. Comparable to CREN as a CRE membership organization for brokers and investors, but with credentialing, technology tools, and a national chapter structure CREN does not currently offer.
- BOMA International (Building Owners and Managers Association): International trade association for commercial real estate building owners, managers, and professionals. Comparable to CREN as a CRE professional membership and events organization, though BOMA focuses on property operations and asset management rather than transactional brokerage networking.
- NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association): National trade association for commercial real estate developers, owners, and investors. Comparable to CREN as a membership-based industry association serving CRE practitioners, but operating nationally with significantly broader scope, deeper content, and institutional resources.
- ULI (Urban Land Institute): Global research and education organization focused on land use and real estate. Comparable to CREN as a CRE professional membership body providing networking, education, and member events, but at a much larger global scale with policy and research output CREN does not attempt.
- SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors): International society of CRE brokers specializing in industrial and office transactions. Comparable to CREN as a membership-based body serving licensed CRE brokers and affiliates, but operating at national/international scope with a specialty designation rather than a regional generalist positioning.
- ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers): Global trade association serving the retail real estate industry with networking events, education, and advocacy. Comparable to CREN as a CRE-segment membership and events organization, but focused on retail real estate and operating at global scale rather than a single regional market.
Regional players
- Houston Apartment Association: Regional trade association for the Houston multifamily rental housing industry. Comparable to CREN as a Houston-based CRE-sector membership association offering events, advocacy, and education, though focused specifically on multifamily rather than the broader CRE practitioner base CREN serves.
- Houston Realty Business Coalition: Regional Houston-based CRE industry body providing networking and advocacy for real estate professionals. Comparable to CREN as a Houston-area professional membership organization serving commercial real estate practitioners through events and member services.
Direct peers
- CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women): Global networking organization advancing women in commercial real estate through local chapters, events, and leadership programs. Directly comparable to CREN as a CRE-focused networking association that operates via chapters, events, and member sponsorship, and is explicitly listed as one of CREN's partner organizations.
- BACREN (Building Owners and Contractors Real Estate Network): Houston-area CRE networking organization explicitly cited as a CREN partner. Directly comparable to CREN as a regional membership-based networking body serving Houston CRE practitioners through events and member engagement in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CREN social profiles
Digital presenceCREN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CREN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CREN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CREN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CREN
What does CREN do?
CREN is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit networking organization that sells annual memberships (a $99/year tier for licensed real estate brokers/salespersons and a $199/year Affiliate Member tier for industry affiliates such as lenders, attorneys, and service providers) and operates a year-round calendar of in-person events including luncheons, happy hours, bowling tournaments, clay shoots, and holiday parties. The organization also runs a partnership/sponsorship program for companies seeking visibility in the Houston commercial real estate community and publishes blog/insights content on the industry.
Is CREN a public or private company?
CREN is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CREN founded?
CREN was founded in 1972. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CREN based?
CREN is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does CREN make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships.
Who are CREN's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CCIM Institute, BOMA International (Building Owners and Managers Association), NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association), ULI (Urban Land Institute), SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) and ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers). Regional players are Houston Apartment Association and Houston Realty Business Coalition. Direct peers are CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women) and BACREN (Building Owners and Contractors Real Estate Network).
Does CREN have an API?
No public API is recorded for CREN.
What industry is CREN in?
CREN's product category is Commercial Real Estate Networking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAMAB, Commercial Real Estate Asset Management. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.