🏠 ⚖️ The American Real Estate Association has grown from an idea born during a crisis at the National Association of Realtors into a national trade organization reporting approximately 30,000 members.

As major brokerage firms align with ARA, some agents may still be asking a surprisingly basic question: Did I choose to join?

The American Real Estate Association expanded by making the New York Residential Agent Continuum, known as NYRAC, its first local chapter. It has also gained support from prominent real estate companies, hired a federal lobbyist and appointed industry executives to leadership positions. Its rapid expansion introduces competition into a part of the business that NAR has dominated for generations.

That momentum deserves attention, but it also raises questions about consent, representation, governance and value. What does ARA provide that existing organizations do not? How did it grow so quickly? Who selects its policy priorities? When a brokerage aligns with the organization, are its agents automatically enrolled, offered complimentary access or simply invited to register?

The answers may vary by company. Some professionals joined and paid dues independently. Others may have been bulk enrolled with the ability to opt out, offered a complimentary membership requiring activation or given an optional opportunity to register. Those situations should not be treated as interchangeable.

These questions are also personally relevant to me. I am affiliated with Douglas Elliman and belong to the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the Long Island Board of Realtors, the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

I value the advocacy, professional development, ethical standards and industry relationships these organizations provide. I did not personally seek an alternative to NAR, and I would not want my brokerage affiliation interpreted as an endorsement of another association that I never knowingly selected. For those who are less familiar with the association structure, NAR is the established national organization connected to local and state Realtor associations. ARA is a newer, separate trade group seeking to provide agents with another source of advocacy, education and professional representation.

In This Article

  • Why the American Real Estate Association was created
  • How brokerage partnerships helped ARA reach 30,000 members
  • Douglas Elliman’s leadership role in ARA
  • Whether agents were enrolled without choosing to join
  • How the American Real Estate Association differs from NAR
  • NYRAC’s relationship with ARA
  • ARA’s state and federal advocacy
  • What NAR’s membership decline actually shows
  • What ARA’s growth means for NAR and its members
  • Whether REBNY has endorsed ARA
  • What Jason Haber’s REBNY role means
  • Whether Jason Haber’s ARA and REBNY roles create a conflict
  • What agents should ask before being counted as members
  • The larger question about choice and representation
  • Frequently asked questions

Why Was the American Real Estate Association Created?

The origins of the American Real Estate Association can be traced to the turmoil that engulfed NAR in 2023. After The New York Times reported sexual harassment allegations involving then NAR President Kenny Parcell, New York City broker Jason Haber created the NAR Accountability Project.

The project reportedly began with eight petition signatures and developed into a campaign demanding leadership changes, independent review of harassment complaints and greater accountability within the nation’s largest real estate trade group. The eight signatures frequently mentioned in recent coverage belonged to that reform campaign, not to ARA’s membership roll.

NAR was simultaneously confronting antitrust litigation over broker compensation and listing practices, considerable leadership turnover and growing frustration among agents questioning whether their dues produced sufficient representation. In March 2024, NAR agreed to a proposed $418 million settlement of nationwide commission litigation, followed by substantial changes to industry practices later that year.

Haber and The Agency founder Mauricio Umansky launched the American Real Estate Association in January 2024 against this unsettled backdrop. They argued that agents needed another national voice focused on advocacy, education, cooperation and the standing of the profession.

ARA describes its mission as elevating and empowering real estate professionals. Its “Trade Up” initiative seeks to raise professional standards and improve the public’s perception of agents. Haber also says the organization is not attempting to destroy or replace NAR. He presents it as a supplemental voice that can react faster than a large institution with an extensive committee and governance structure.

The objectives sound promising, but the success of the American Real Estate Association will depend on what it delivers, how openly it operates and whether agents across different markets believe it represents their interests.

HOW BROKERAGE PARTNERSHIPS HELPED ARA REACH 30,000 MEMBERS

ARA’s early expansion came through individual memberships and sponsors, but much of its subsequent growth resulted from relationships with brokerage firms and other real estate organizations.

The New York Residential Agent Continuum became the American Real Estate Association’s first official local chapter in January 2025, giving the new national group an established network, local programming and an operational foothold in New York City.

Later that year, Douglas Elliman aligned with ARA and its approximately 6,600 agents and brokers were added to the organization’s reported membership. R New York and The Agency also became part of its expanding coalition.

Momentum accelerated during 2026. REMAX announced that its agents in the United States would be offered a complimentary first year of membership. Compass International Holdings subsequently announced that eligible professionals at its company owned operations would have the option to register without charge for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027.

These arrangements gave ARA access to tens of thousands of real estate professionals without requiring it to recruit every person individually. They also make its reported membership more difficult to interpret because the terms are not identical.

Reporting about Douglas Elliman described the firm as bringing its agents and brokers into ARA, with the organization stating that individuals could opt out. REMAX announced a complimentary membership offer, while Compass International Holdings explicitly said its eligible agents could decide whether to register and participate.

An optional offer is not automatic enrollment, and neither necessarily reflects the same level of commitment as an agent independently visiting ARA’s website, completing an application and paying dues. Being eligible to join, receiving complimentary access, activating an account and voluntarily supporting an organization are related but different actions.

That distinction becomes especially important when ARA describes its size and influence. Access to thousands of agents is a substantial achievement, but access should not be confused with active participation. Membership also should not automatically be interpreted as an endorsement of every policy the organization pursues.

The brokerage partnerships demonstrate that major firms are willing to lend ARA their names, reach and executive leadership. Greater transparency would nevertheless help agents and the public understand how many members joined independently, how many were enrolled through company arrangements, how many activated complimentary offers, how many retained the ability to opt out and how many actively participate.

The central question is not whether brokerage partnerships are legitimate. It is whether the American Real Estate Association clearly distinguishes among potential reach, complimentary eligibility, activated accounts, bulk enrollment and voluntary dues paying membership when reporting its growth.

Douglas Elliman’s Leadership Role in ARA

Douglas Elliman’s involvement extends beyond the reported addition of its agents to ARA’s membership.

Elliman President and CEO Michael Liebowitz was initially described in news coverage as the first announced member of the organization’s management board. ARA’s current website now lists Liebowitz on its Advisory Board with Stef Berkin, William Watson and Chris Lim.

Elliman General Counsel Deva Roberts holds a more formal position on ARA’s Board of Directors. The current directors also include Haber, Umansky, Briggs Elwell, Dan Kennedy, Danielle Garofalo and Andrew Dodge.

The difference between the two bodies is important. An advisory board generally contributes experience and strategic guidance, but it does not necessarily possess the authority or fiduciary responsibilities of a board of directors. ARA does not clearly define the powers of each group on its public website, so it would be inappropriate to assume that Liebowitz directly controls its decisions.

Elliman still has a substantial presence because its chief executive advises the organization and its general counsel serves as a director. The relationship gives the brokerage another possible avenue for influencing discussions about advocacy, education and industry policy. It also provides the American Real Estate Association with credibility through an established national real estate brand.

Were Agents Enrolled Without Choosing to Join?

If your brokerage announced a relationship with the American Real Estate Association but you never personally joined, begin by determining which arrangement applies to you. Ask your brokerage and ARA whether an account was created in your name, whether you are included in its reported membership and whether dues were paid on your behalf.

You should also ask what information was provided, whether the membership can renew automatically, whether future dues could become your responsibility and how to decline participation. If you received an invitation or complimentary offer that you never activated, request confirmation that you are not being counted as an active member.

These questions apply to agents at Douglas Elliman, REMAX, Compass International Holdings, R New York, The Agency and any other company that develops a relationship with ARA. The answers may differ because the organization has said that it handles the financial and operational terms of brokerage arrangements individually.

A brokerage’s support for a trade association does not necessarily represent the personal views of every affiliated agent or independent contractor. If ARA intends to build its legitimacy around agent choice, its enrollment practices and reported membership figures should make that choice visible.

How the American Real Estate Association Differs From NAR

Membership in the American Real Estate Association does not replace membership in a Realtor organization.

NAR operates through a three way agreement connecting local, state and national associations. A Realtor who joins through a local association also becomes part of the applicable state organization and NAR. This structure supports coordinated advocacy, education, research, enforcement of a common Code of Ethics and the right to use the REALTOR® trademark.

ARA exists outside that federated system. Joining it does not confer the REALTOR® designation, provide the complete benefits associated with NAR membership or automatically grant access to OneKey MLS, REBNY’s Residential Listing Service or another listing platform. Local requirements determine how MLS participation and association membership interact in each market.

An agent may belong to both organizations. Someone may also remain a member of local, state and national Realtor associations without participating in ARA. Nothing in the available information suggests that agents whose brokerages support the American Real Estate Association must choose one national group over the other.

For established NAR members, ARA currently functions as an additional layer of potential representation rather than a substitute. Whether that added voice is worthwhile depends on its results, openness, educational resources and relevance to an agent’s business.

NYRAC Becomes ARA’s First Local Chapter

The New York Residential Agent Continuum was created in 2018 by residential professionals seeking greater collaboration, higher ethical standards, more consistent business practices and a direct voice in New York City policy discussions.

NYRAC initially concentrated on experienced, high producing agents. It later eliminated its production requirement as part of an effort to encourage greater diversity and participation. Its activities have included education, networking and advocacy involving the FARE Act, the pied à terre surcharge and other policies affecting New York City real estate.

NYRAC became the first official local chapter of the American Real Estate Association in January 2025. The organization says its original mission and programming continue, with Haber serving as president and cofounder Heather Domi remaining active on its executive committee.

The relationship gives both groups something they previously lacked. NYRAC provides ARA with an established New York network, local events and organizing experience. ARA supplies NYRAC with a national identity, wider brokerage relationships and a developing advocacy platform. Haber has described the local chapter as a testing ground for services that may eventually be offered nationwide.

This close connection helps explain why several of ARA’s early campaigns have focused on New York City. The organization has opposed the FARE Act and the city’s pied à terre surcharge, sometimes appearing publicly under joint NYRAC and ARA branding.

ARA Enters State and Federal Advocacy

ARA identifies political advocacy as a central reason for its existence. It joined Missouri Realtors in opposing 2026 ballot proposals that the organizations argued could increase costs for homeowners and potentially permit a real estate transfer tax. It has also challenged policies in New York and Florida that it believes would harm agents, property owners or the operation of the housing market.

In August 2026, the American Real Estate Association entered federal lobbying by retaining Blount Strategic Initiatives and appointing John Blount as its chief lobbyist. Blount previously worked in congressional affairs for NAR and has decades of experience in government relations.

The federal registration identifies real estate, land use and conservation as broad areas of interest, but it does not provide a detailed legislative agenda. Future disclosures should reveal which bills and regulatory proposals receive the organization’s attention.

This expansion creates both an opportunity and a responsibility. A national association should explain how it selects issues, who approves its positions, how regional interests are balanced and where the money supporting its advocacy originates.

An agent in New York may welcome opposition to a city surcharge, but someone in another state may reasonably ask why national resources should support a campaign concentrated in Manhattan. National organizations frequently assist with local concerns, so geographic focus alone does not invalidate a position. The more important questions involve transparency, member input and whether the selected policy serves consumers and the profession rather than a narrow part of the market.

NAR Membership Decline: What the Numbers Actually Show

The growth of the American Real Estate Association becomes easier to evaluate when placed beside the size of NAR.

As of June 18, 2026, NAR reported 1,439,163 members, compared with 1,463,352 one year earlier. That represents an annual decline of approximately 24,000 members, or 1.7 percent.

NAR reached a record of approximately 1.6 million members during the pandemic era housing boom in October 2022. Its current total is roughly 10 percent below that peak but remains above 1.4 million, a level the organization says it has exceeded only a handful of times in its history.

The 1.2 million figure sometimes cited online is not NAR’s current membership count. NAR adopted 1.2 million as a conservative assumption for future budget planning so its finances could remain stable if enrollment fell further. A budget forecast should not be reported as the number of people currently belonging to the organization.

NAR membership has declined, but the figures do not establish that agents are leaving for ARA. Realtor enrollment has historically followed the housing cycle because more people enter the business when transactions are plentiful and some leave when sales and earning opportunities contract.

High mortgage rates, affordability challenges, limited inventory and an existing home sales pace near its lowest level in decades have made it harder for many agents to earn a sustainable living. These market conditions offer a significant explanation for the decline, although dissatisfaction with NAR may influence some individual decisions.

ARA’s approximately 30,000 members equal about 2 percent of NAR’s current total. The comparison demonstrates that the American Real Estate Association has gained visibility and institutional support, but it remains far smaller than the organization against which it is frequently measured.

The totals may not be directly comparable because NAR’s figure reflects membership through its local, state and national structure. ARA’s count includes people who joined independently alongside agents connected through brokerage relationships, complimentary offers and reported bulk enrollment. Without a detailed breakdown from ARA, the numbers do not necessarily represent equivalent levels of financial commitment or active participation.

What ARA’s Growth Means for NAR and Its Members

ARA does not need to approach NAR’s size to influence it. By giving dissatisfied agents and brokerage leaders another national platform, the newer organization introduces something NAR has rarely faced at this level: competition for members, attention and credibility. That pressure could compel NAR to respond more quickly to industry concerns, communicate its decisions more clearly, strengthen accountability and show members exactly what their dues deliver. ARA can also advance proposals that might receive less attention within NAR’s larger governance structure and give brokerage executives another avenue for influencing national conversations about real estate policy, professional standards and the future of the industry.

Competition can encourage accountability, but fragmentation may weaken the industry’s collective voice. Agents already receive representation through brokerage firms, listing services, local boards, state associations, NAR and various professional councils. When these entities promote conflicting positions, policymakers may hear division instead of stronger advocacy.

The American Real Estate Association says it wants to complement NAR. Cooperation on shared priorities would support that claim. Defining itself primarily through dissatisfaction with NAR could make establishing a lasting independent identity more difficult.

As an NAR member, I believe accountability and institutional loyalty can coexist. NAR should be expected to learn from its failures and demonstrate why its structure remains valuable. ARA should be required to show that its rapid growth represents informed participation rather than simply access to thousands of names through brokerage agreements.

Has REBNY Endorsed the American Real Estate Association?

No public evidence reviewed for this article establishes that the Real Estate Board of New York has formally endorsed ARA.

REBNY and ARA are separate organizations with different structures. REBNY represents a wide cross section of the New York City industry, including residential and commercial brokers, owners, developers, property managers, attorneys and other professionals. ARA describes itself as a national organization built around agents and brokers.

The groups may support similar positions on a particular law, and some professionals may hold roles in more than one association. Shared members or policy positions do not establish an institutional alliance. Unless REBNY announces a partnership, adopts a resolution or issues an endorsement, Haber’s involvement in both organizations should not be portrayed as proof that REBNY supports ARA.

What Jason Haber’s REBNY Board Role Means for the Industry

REBNY’s constitution gives its Board of Governors broad authority over the administration and direction of the organization. The board consists of more than 50 governors drawn from several membership classes, with voting members electing governors at the annual meeting for three year terms.

Haber’s seat gives an active residential broker and industry organizer a place within REBNY’s senior governance structure. His presence may help bring agents’ concerns into discussions historically influenced by owners, developers and larger real estate companies. His policy experience, media visibility and ability to mobilize professionals may also be useful to an organization that frequently engages city and state government.

REBNY has not publicly stated that Haber was selected to advance the American Real Estate Association. Assigning that purpose without evidence would be speculation. A more defensible interpretation is that his background adds a distinct residential and advocacy perspective to a large board representing many parts of the industry.

Do Jason Haber’s Roles at ARA and REBNY Create a Conflict?

Haber’s leadership positions do not automatically constitute a conflict of interest, but they can create circumstances in which the interests of ARA, NYRAC and REBNY diverge.

The concern would become more substantial if confidential information, policy strategy, membership recruitment, funding decisions or organizational opportunities could benefit one association at the expense of another. Good governance normally addresses these situations through disclosure, confidentiality obligations, independent review and recusal from particular votes.

Haber should disclose his interests and consider recusal if REBNY evaluates a financial arrangement, formal partnership or dispute involving ARA or NYRAC. Similar standards should apply to every governor serving organizations with overlapping interests.

REBNY members could reasonably ask whether the dual roles have been formally disclosed, what conflict policy applies, when recusal is required and whether governors may vote on decisions directly affecting another organization they lead. Transparent answers would protect Haber, REBNY and their members from questions about divided loyalties.

What Agents Should Ask Before Being Counted as Members

The American Real Estate Association has moved beyond its beginnings as a response to dissatisfaction with NAR. It now has major brokerage relationships, an established New York chapter, recognizable board members and a presence in federal lobbying.

Its next phase should produce a detailed policy agenda, meaningful financial reporting, clearer membership classifications, explicit renewal and opt out procedures, published governance standards and measurable educational benefits. Agents should also be able to determine how their names entered the membership database and how much influence individual members have over organizational priorities.

NAR should not dismiss ARA’s growth because agents are clearly demanding stronger communication, greater accountability and a better explanation of what their dues accomplish. ARA should not underestimate the infrastructure, political reach and professional standards that NAR and its affiliated associations have developed over many decades.

The Larger Question About Choice and Representation

The American Real Estate Association arose because serious institutional failures created room for another voice. Its growth shows that influential firms and some agents want additional choices in national representation. It does not prove that ARA has replaced NAR, that every affiliated professional endorses its positions or that enrollment through a brokerage equals informed consent.

As an Elliman agent and longtime member of the Realtor organization, I can understand why ARA was created without embracing it as my chosen association. I can support greater accountability without abandoning organizations in which I have invested years of service. I can also expect any group claiming to represent me to provide notice, disclose its terms and respect my decision about whether to participate.

The issue extends beyond one organization because representation carries the greatest legitimacy when professionals understand who is speaking for them, know what that association supports and have consciously chosen to participate.

If a brokerage enrolls its affiliated agents in a trade association, what information and choices should those agents receive before they are counted as members?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the American Real Estate Association?

The American Real Estate Association is a national trade group founded by Jason Haber and Mauricio Umansky in 2024. It focuses on advocacy, education, professional standards and representation for real estate agents and brokers.

Is ARA replacing the National Association of Realtors?

ARA says it does not intend to replace NAR. It operates as a separate and supplemental organization without NAR’s local and state association structure, REALTOR® trademark or unified Code of Ethics system. An agent may belong to both organizations, and participation in one does not automatically cancel membership in the other.

Am I automatically an ARA member if my brokerage joined?

Not necessarily. The arrangement varies by brokerage. Some reporting describes bulk enrollment with an opportunity to opt out, while other firms have offered complimentary memberships that agents may choose to activate. Ask your brokerage and ARA to confirm whether an active membership exists in your name.

Does my brokerage’s support mean that I endorse ARA?

No. A brokerage’s institutional relationship with the American Real Estate Association does not necessarily represent the personal views of every affiliated agent or independent contractor.

WHAT IF I WAS ENROLLED BUT NEVER AGREED TO JOIN?

Request written confirmation of when and how the membership was created, whether you are included in ARA’s reported total, whether dues were paid, what information was provided and how to opt out. You should also ask whether the account can renew or create any future financial obligation.

Disclosure

I am an associate real estate broker affiliated with Douglas Elliman and a member of HGAR, LIBOR, NYSAR and NAR. This article reflects my independent research and analysis. It does not represent the official position of Douglas Elliman, the American Real Estate Association, NAR or any other trade organization with which I am affiliated.

📚 SOURCES AND FURTHER READING

🔗 RELATED ARTICLES