About me
Keith Smith serves as Chair of the Piedmont Community Land Trust (PCLT), where he works at the intersection of public policy, private development, and community partnerships to expand access to affordable homeownership across the Charlottesville region.
A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Keith has been active in the real estate space since 1987. He and his wife and business partner, Yonna Smith, have been working together in the industry for 39 years. Together, they are co-owners of Yes Realty Partners, where Keith serves as a Virginia-licensed real estate broker and Class A licensed contractor. His career spans brokerage, land development, planning, and construction, providing a comprehensive, ground-level perspective on housing from concept to closing.
Keith brings 15 years of public service on regional boards and commissions. He currently serves as Chair of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and co-chair of the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership, working with local governments, nonprofits, and private-sector partners to align policy, funding, and development strategies.
He is the creator of the “Four Pillars of Housing Affordability,” a framework focused on permanently affordable homeownership, generational wealth, community diversity, and stabilizing gentrification. Through this work, he has helped facilitate the creation of over 60 permanently affordable homes in the Charlottesville region and now shares this model nationally.
