President
Ashley Thomas III is a nationally respected housing advocate, entrepreneur, and policy strategist dedicated to expanding economic opportunity and advancing Black homeownership in America. As CEO and Founder of LA Top Broker, a multi-state mortgage brokerage, and the Managing Broker of First Security Investment Co., Inc. (FSICO), one of the oldest Black-owned property management firms in the nation. Ashley brings more than twenty-five years of experience across real estate, lending, and community development.
A proud California native, Ashley began his real estate career at age 20, quickly recognizing how deeply housing outcomes are shaped by public policy. His early leadership in loss mitigation at a national mortgage firm, where he worked to prevent foreclosures for families in crisis, revealed the systemic inequities embedded in the housing ecosystem. This experience ignited a lifelong commitment to pairing policy reform with hands-on community engagement.
In 2012, Ashley launched LA Top Broker with a mission to provide equitable access to mortgage solutions for diverse and underserved borrowers. That same year, he became the Managing Broker of FSICO, where he has championed reinvestment strategies, expanded pathways to development and ownership, and upheld a legacy of service rooted in community stability and generational wealth building.
Ashley is a long-standing and passionate member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). For more than 15 years, he has held leadership roles at every level of the organization and now serves as its National President, guiding the association’s national policy agenda and advancing its mission: Closing the Gap through Advocacy, Affordability, and Access.
Through his work in the field, his leadership in national advocacy, and his mentorship of emerging professionals, Ashley remains focused on a core belief: housing is more than a transaction; it is a pathway to justice, stability, and legacy for future generations. Whether in boardrooms, community discussions, or meeting with Congressional leaders, he continues to fight for a fairer, more accessible housing landscape for all.