Above, Mauricio Umansky, left, and Jason Haber
Already embroiled in controversies and lawsuits over the past year, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) now looks to be having to deal with a new group intent on potentially supplanting it. Mauricio Umansky, a celebrity agent in Los Angeles, and Jason Haber, an agent with Compass in New York, have announced their intent to start an alternative group, the American Real Estate Association (AREA).
Haber, 46, has been vocal in his disapproval of NAR, starting the N.A.R. Accountability Project following the resignation of former NAR President Kenny Parcell last year. Umansky, 53, co-founded the Hollywood brokerage the Agency.
In an exclusive interview with RISMedia, Umansky said the excitement level over the undertaking has already been overwhelming.
“This is about the future of real estate,” he said. “I love this business, it’s the best business in the world. Jason and I feel we have an opportunity to create an association that advocates for REALTORS®, to take care of them.”
Umansky stated that there will be three pillars to AREA. They are education, advocacy and lobbying and, hopefully, one listing service nationwide. The details are all to be worked out, he said.
Asked whether he sees competition with NAR or whether he would like AREA. to actually supplant NAR, he was noncommittal.
“I have no idea if we would coexist,” he explained. “The REALTORS® will choose who they want to be with. If we coexist, it’s okay with us. There are just a lot of problems and frustrations right now.
He added, “I’m a REALTOR® first, with 3,000 agents who work for me. They want to be taken into the future.”
“We’ll hire a CEO and get a board of directors. The excitement has been tremendous just in the eight hours since it was first announced.”
Umansky added that details will start being announced soon.
Asked for comment Tuesday on the new developments, a NAR spokesperson emailed the following to RISMedia:
“Our members have always appreciated and thrived in a competitive environment. NAR is future-focused and remains committed to leading and fostering dialogue and actions that encompass diverse perspectives. Our best-in-class advocacy efforts have led to improved access to homeownership, increased housing inventory, streamlined affordable housing programs, expanded economic opportunities, and progress toward ensuring fair housing for all. We are proud to deliver unmatched value to our members, including by providing industry leadership, innovative tools, educational opportunities, leading economic research, national property data and other benefits.”
Stay tuned to RISMedia for further developments.
Please remember you can not call yourself a REALTOR unless you are a dues paying member to the National Association of REALTORS (The word REALTOR is trademarked and protect by law)
So unless this new organization is able to purchase the trademark they can only call themselves agents or real estate agents.
To say you are a Realtor first indicates you are a Member of the National Association of Realtors first. The comment tells me they are already starting on the wrong foot and it will just end up being more of the same. I think he meant he is a Real Estate Agent first. You lose my attention if you don’t get the fundamentals straight. I thought Zillow would end up moving to be competition for NAR and members would not be Realtors but they would be Premier Agents.
Spot on, Michael.
This caught my attention as well.
http://www.irep.org is another group.
How about if I decide not to be a member of either association. Sounds good to me.
The biggest disappointment with NAR is how they are handling the lawsuit about the commission. They should have our backs . Since when can layers and disgruntled sellers set
What educated hard working Realtors should make!
It is about time that the NAR be challenged. Although I am a big advocate of what NAR is soused to stand for, they really have not lived up to it. I not only live by the Code of Ethics, I also certified to teach it and have had my CoE course approved by both the state I live in and NAR. However, it means nothing if we don’t all live by it. There are those that do not and are rarely subject to disciplinary actions.
We need an organization that is proactive not reactive. Between the anti-trust lawsuits (which began in 2019 regarding sellers paying buyers agents) and the fair housing violations and many other issues through-out the years; NAR makes changes because they get “caught”. We need to be prepared before it comes to light. That is advocacy for its members. There has to be people who have the foresight and they must speak up and be heard.
I think this AREA is a great start with great ideas (National MLS is awesome and could be also accomplished if RPR did the same thing). And even if it doesn’t come to fruition, it will open the eyes up with NAR. Competition will always do that and the NAR monopoly mindset may come to an end.
Well said! Monopoly does not, sometimes, afford the best results! Realtors work hard for their commissions and are entitled once they put the work in and it’s consummated. The dues have always seemed high for what we get. Most work independently and get things done!
Thankful for anyones efforts to help Realtors and the consumers; as that’s are clientele and whom we have to have their best interests in!
Jeffrey, you are spot-on with your words. NAR needs a good kick in the pants. They have never had this kind of competition. I would like to see a National MLS. I always refer clients to other states. Trying to find realtors and look for information can be difficult. I wish them nothing but the best.
The so called American Real Estate Association portrays itself as a lifeboat for the large sinking ocean liner, NAR. Problem is that the ocean liner is NOT sinking. All organizations are faced with issues and major hurdles during their lifetime, and NAR will make its’ way through this perfect storm. Umansky and Haber saw an opening, a crack, and will profess they are not trying to sink the ship, but they appear to be doing just that. NAR is a family. A proud family that has suffered some embarrassment at the leadership level. The lawsuits are a matter that still need to wind their way to a conclusion. I doubt they will bankrupt or bring NAR to its’ knees at the end of the day. So, the foundation of membership, the vast majority of “family members” would be well advised to stay strong, believe in the ability of the family to overcome, and NOT follow the lead of a couple of self-proclaimed saviors in trying to urge fledgling family members to jump ship. Everyone gets their fifteen minutes of fame, I guess. Let’s see how successful the A.R.E.A. becomes. Time will be the judge.
Have some more Kool Aide…