The  Belonging, Community, & Diversity (ABCD )Committee recently reached an important milestone in its ongoing effort to improve accessibility and understanding within the real estate process for Spanish-speaking consumers across New Mexico.

ABCD Committee Chair Carmen Cavnar and Past Chair Jasmin Sanchez attended the recent New Mexico Association of REALTORS® Forms Committee meeting in Santa Fe to formally discuss the development of Spanish Translation Guides for NMAR forms. Following discussion and review, the initiative officially moved forward to the next step in the approval process with NMAR’s Executive Committee.

For the ABCD Committee, and more specifically the Spanish Forms Subcommittee, this moment represents more than a year and a half of work, collaboration, and persistence. Committee members and volunteers have dedicated countless hours to meetings, research, conversations with other states, and discussions with industry professionals to understand better how translation guides could become a reality for New Mexico REALTORS® and consumers.

As part of that work, the ABCD Spanish Forms Subcommittee developed a proposed translation process designed to improve efficiency, accuracy, and long-term scalability. The process utilizes DeepL, an AI-powered translation platform capable of translating documents while maintaining the original formatting of NMAR forms. Once translated, the documents are then reviewed by a group of Spanish-speaking volunteers to verify accuracy, consistency, and clarity.

This approach helps streamline what would otherwise be an extremely time-intensive process while still ensuring native speakers play a critical role in reviewing the final translations. The model also creates opportunities for future expansion into additional languages, helping make real estate information more accessible to a broader range of consumers throughout New Mexico.

The effort reflects a broader goal of helping Spanish-speaking families better understand the real estate process by providing greater access to information in their preferred language. While the translation guides are still progressing through the approval process, this advancement marks meaningful momentum toward greater accessibility and consumer understanding.

The initiative itself has been powered by a wide network of supporters, volunteers, and industry partners who have continued moving the conversation forward over time. The ABCD Committee expressed appreciation for the many individuals and organizations that helped support the effort along the way, including:

• NAHREP Albuquerque-Santa Fe
• Paul Parsons and Jen Hernandez with CMG Mortgage
• Talia Freedman for helping connect the committee with the NMAR Forms Committee
• The ABCD Spanish Forms Subcommittee volunteers
  • Jasmin Sanchez - Chair
  • Franky Armendariz
  • Aide Betanco
  • Carmen Cavnar
  • Bridget Gilbert
  • Rachel Hernandez
  • J.P. Mora
  • Monica Martinez-McNeil
  • Clare Walker

The progress made so far serves as a reminder that meaningful change rarely happens overnight. It takes collaboration, volunteer leadership, persistence, and people willing to stay engaged in the process. For the ABCD Committee, this latest step reflects the continued commitment to creating a more informed, inclusive, and accessible real estate experience for communities across New Mexico.

One step closer, and plenty of momentum moving forward.