At Inman Connect New York, National Association of Realtors co-founder Jason Haber spoke about real estate’s reputation and why there is room for two national real estate industry associations.
Jason Haber was a man possessed on stage at Inman Connect New York, and after Inman founder Brad Inman asked him for an update on the National Association of Realtors, he excitedly launched into a lecture about restoring professionalism in the industry.
“You know, we rank low in used car sales and customer service polls. I think that’s wrong, and I think that has to change,” Haber said, punctuating every word with a swipe of his hand. “We’re the only professional industry that basically allows and accepts everyone to have a license. Do you go to a doctor who says, ‘Well, I went to the medical board because Uncle Johnny doesn’t look that great and he’s going to be autopsied in a few years. And when he’s ready to have a stent put in, I’ll be there.’
“No one would accept that in any other industry, be it law or medicine or whatever,” he added. “But our industry has accepted the idea that it’s okay to be full of non-professionals, it’s okay to have everyone and their mother’s brother’s brother’s cousin.”
Before continuing, Inman sharply redirected Haber to the first question about the association.
The past two years have been a bit of a whirlwind for Harbor. He launched the American Association of Realtors at Inman Connect New York 2024 with The Agency CEO Mauricio Umansky.
“Right now, I don’t feel like anyone cares. We’re in a tough spot,” Umansky said in 2024 of his and Haber’s intentions. “We need better advocacy, we need better lobbying, and we need to make sure we’re valued.”
Industry reaction to AREA was mixed. Some praised the duo for boldly creating an organization to replace the National Association of Realtors, which was licking its wounds after losing Sitzer. Allegations of misconduct continue in Barnett’s Buyer and Broker Commission lawsuit. Others dismissed it as a bizarre endeavor, but Harbor seemed uninterested in such sentiments.
“And it was just two guys. They said we were crazy. They were right,” he said. “They said we would fail, and many thought we would just disappear. Two years later here we are.”
AREA now has 30,000 members and formed its first chapter last January by absorbing the New York Residential Agent Continuum, a New York City trade group. The association’s annual dues for 2026 are $20. However, agents can become founding members for $1,500 per year. This is a valuable credential as the group continues to avoid investor and shareholder involvement.
“After making this big splash at Inman two years ago, we [venture capitalists] Someone contacted us who wanted to invest in the company. Since it’s a black hole, I had to refuse. The money coming in is not [money] Outside. “There is no quid pro quo,” he says, adding, “We are currently adding sponsors, adding events and executives who are contributing. We are growing our revenue and will continue to build a sustainable model. We also have very low overhead, which is also helping us so far.”
Haber said AREA is focused on strengthening agent professionalism through education and advocacy, expanding member benefits and services, and enhancing its calendar with a robust schedule of virtual community calls and other online events.
“I know everyone is focused on membership growth, but I think this is an important business,” he said. “But I think more importantly, I want the agents in this room, the ones who come back in a year or two, to feel like, ‘AREA, they’re protecting me,'” he said. “I’m an agent just like you guys who puts on a show every day. I understand the backlash we’re getting from the government. We’re having easy wins in so many state capitols and city halls across the country right now. And we have to change the narrative in this industry, and I want AREA to be a part of that.”
Despite Haber’s harsh criticism of NAR, AREA leaders said NAR still plays an important role in the industry and that an agency’s choice between AREA and NAR should not be an either-or decision.
“If you’re dissatisfied, you have to have something to be a part of change. And we think we can have a voice. It doesn’t take anything away from NAR,” he said. “We believe this is a big industry, everyone can own their own land, and the ecosystem is big enough to go beyond a single industry association.”
Email Marian McPherson
