USA: Nepali realtor Jitman Basnet has been honored with the prestigious Elite Award by United Real Estate, making him possibly the first Nepali recipient of the honor. Basnet was selected from among 25,000 realtors across the U.S. and was recognized at a conference attended by over 500 realtors in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.

“Hard work, client trust, and the support of friends and well-wishers have brought me here. This award is dedicated to them,” Basnet said after receiving the honor.

Before moving to the U.S., Basnet worked as a journalist and a human rights lawyer in Nepal, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities for over 15 years. Now a full-time realtor, he is known for his helpful and friendly nature, as well as his involvement in community service, said Ngima Pakhrin, a resident of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

For the past three years, Basnet has consistently won Top Realtor awards. However, this year marks his first recognition at the Elite level. He has also received the Millennium Club Award and the Top Agent Sales Volume award, making him the first realtor from North Carolina to achieve such distinctions. He is currently affiliated with United Triangle Realty in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Since becoming a realtor in 2019, Basnet has been actively engaged in social work during his free time. This year, the Himalayan Community of North Carolina also honored him for his contributions to preserving Nepali language and culture in the diaspora.

For the past three years, Basnet has been involved in the Mechi-Mahakali White Cane Campaign in Nepal, which provides mobility aids to visually impaired individuals. He co-founded the initiative with North Carolina-based Karma Sherpa Gole.

The campaign was inspired by Gole’s unique way of fundraising—cutting hair for fellow Nepalis in his free time and donating the tips he received. Basnet then contributed a portion of his own earnings to the initiative. Together, they partnered with Bright Star Society, a Nepal-based organization for the visually impaired. Over the years, many generous donors have joined their cause, helping distribute thousands of white canes across Nepal.

In memory of his late mother, Gole has also been actively involved in other humanitarian efforts supporting the blind.