Serhant Joins American Real Estate Association to Boost Trade Membership
The American Real Estate Association has recruited Ryan Serhant's eponymous brokerage as its newest member, according to reporting by The Real Deal. This addition brings approximately 2,200 agents into the fold of the two-year-old trade group, which was established by Jason Haber and Mauricio Umansky as a competitor to legacy industry organizations.
Context from Industry Pulse
The rapid growth of the American Real Estate Association signals a shift in trade representation, as the group targets large-scale brokerages to build a membership base that rivals established entities like the National Association of Realtors. By recruiting firms such as Compass, Douglas Elliman, and now Serhant, the group is integrating industry leaders directly into its governance; executives from Elliman and RE/MAX already hold seats on its board of directors. This expansion is paired with an aggressive push into political advocacy, evidenced by the hiring of veteran lobbyists and the launch of localized non-profit groups to influence policy and voter turnout in key markets like New York City.
"A brokerage’s membership in the organization doesn’t mean its agents are required to join."
The American Real Estate Association continues to expand its roster of high-profile brokerage partners with the addition of Serhant. According to The Real Deal, the agreement allows the firm’s 2,200 agents to join the trade group without paying annual membership fees for the 2026 or 2027 calendar years. While the brokerage has officially joined, individual agents retain the choice of whether to enroll in the organization.
This partnership follows a series of significant recruitment successes for the upstart trade group. The Real Deal reports that the organization recently secured Compass International Holdings as its largest member to date. Other major firms that have aligned with the group include Douglas Elliman, RE/MAX, and R New York. These additions have pushed the total membership count to approximately 30,000, though leadership expects that figure to exceed 100,000 by the end of the year.
Beyond simple headcounts, the trade group is leveraging the media influence of its new members. As noted by The Real Deal, the organization views Serhant as a strategic asset due to the firm’s significant social media reach and its connection to the Netflix production Owning Manhattan. This media-centric approach reflects the group’s broader strategy to modernize representation for real estate professionals through digital engagement and high-visibility branding.
The organization is also maturing its professional infrastructure and political reach. The Real Deal highlights that the group recently appointed John Blount, a former veteran executive from the National Association of Realtors, to serve as its first chief lobbyist. Furthermore, the leadership behind the trade group has established a separate non-profit advocacy arm in New York City to mobilize property owners and agents regarding local policy issues and voting initiatives.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
The addition of Serhant underscores the American Real Estate Association’s strategy of using media-heavy brands to accelerate membership growth and challenge traditional trade group dominance through fee incentives and political lobbying.