SERHANT. has officially joined the American Real Estate Association (ARA), enhancing the trade group’s efforts to promote professional standards and advocate for the industry by incorporating a prominent brand and a vast network of agents.

On November 9, the American Real Estate Association announced this development, highlighting that the inclusion of the RealTrends Verified brokerage SERHANT. bolsters its national platform, particularly as agent professionalism, transparency for consumers, and governance in the industry are increasingly under the spotlight.

Founded in 2020, SERHANT. promotes itself as a cutting-edge real estate technology and media firm powered by AI, boasting over 2,000 agents across 20 states and Washington, D.C. The brokerage expanded its presence beyond New York in 2023, launching in California, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Illinois as of 2026, according to their announcement.

Positioned as a national trade association created “by real estate agents, for real estate agents,” ARA emphasizes advocacy, education for the public, and the enhancement of professional standards. The organization remarked that SERHANT. has consistently ranked among the top independent brokerages in the U.S. regarding sales volume, thereby adding significant production capability and media exposure to the association.

Co-founders Jason Haber and Mauricio Umansky regarded this partnership as a crucial step towards creating a more unified voice within the industry.

“Upon launching ARA, our mission was explicit: to create a cohesive and credible association of agents that tirelessly advocates for the industry,” said Haber and Umansky in a joint statement. “Integrating Ryan Serhant and SERHANT. into this mission represents significant progress. It signifies that our industry belongs to dedicated professionals committed to their clients and providing top-tier services.”

Ryan Serhant, a broker and author who is also a star and executive producer of Netflix’s “Owning Manhattan,” indicated that this partnership aims to empower agents in the current competitive and policy-centric housing market.

“To thrive in real estate today, innovation, elevation, and delivering unparalleled value are essential,” stated Serhant, the founder and CEO of SERHANT. “ARA is dedicated to elevating the standards for the whole profession while advocating for homeownership nationwide. Aligning SERHANT. with ARA provides our agents with an even more robust platform to educate consumers, advocate for clients, and influence the future direction of this industry.”

SERHANT. joins the ranks of other major brokerage networks such as REMAX, Compass International Holdings, and Douglas Elliman in collaborating with ARA, as per the announcement. This year, ARA has broadened its board, including Chris Lim, former president and chief growth officer of REMAX, along with investor Andrew Dodge. They will join Douglas Elliman president and CEO Michael Liebowitz, Douglas Elliman general counsel Deva Roberts, and Briggs Elwell on the board.

Additionally, ARA has been proactive regarding state policy matters with potential implications on a national level. The association opposed Missouri’s Amendments 4 and 5 alongside the Missouri Association of Realtors. Voters in Missouri rejected these ballot measures in August, which could have led to transfer taxes on home sales and new taxes on real estate services.

Significance for Housing Professionals

This alliance provides ARA with another prominent and media-savvy brokerage to enhance its advocacy initiatives, especially at a time when litigation, regulatory changes, and local tax proposals are transforming the landscape for agents. For brokers and team leaders, this partnership signals that major firms are increasingly investing in trade association strategies beyond traditional groups to shape policy, professional standards, and consumer perceptions.

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This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.

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