T
he American Real Estate Association (ARA) has seen its membership jump 66 % to 16,600 after Douglas Elliman’s 6,600 agents and brokers joined. The brokerage’s inclusion pushes the group toward a projected 20,000 members, with a target of 100,000 by year‑end as more firms bulk‑enroll their agents. ARA, now operating under its acronym to avoid confusion with another trade body, is transitioning from a volunteer organization to a staffed nonprofit focused on industry elevation.
Douglas Elliman’s CEO, Michael Liebowitz, has been named to ARA’s new management board—a committee of five to ten leading brokerage executives that will steer the association’s direction. Additional board members will be announced later this year. The board’s composition already features Elliman’s General Counsel Deva Roberts, co‑founder Jason Haber, REA co‑founder Mauricio Umansky, and two real‑estate growth company founders.
Haber emphasized that agent participation remains voluntary; firms will decide on dues—whether financial, in‑kind, or other contributions—based on size and scope. Most current members joined the paid program at the basic $20 level for 2025. ARA stresses “agent choice” and does not view the National Association of Realtors as a competitor, aiming instead to coexist peacefully amid recent antitrust discussions.
The addition of Elliman marks a significant milestone for ARA, reinforcing its commitment to expanding membership and strengthening the real‑estate profession.
