ARA expands advocacy, hires John Blount to lead lobbying

The American Real Estate Association (ARA) announced Friday that John Blount will serve as the Mauricio Umansky and Jason Haber-founded trade group’s chief lobbyist. 

Blount spent years as chief lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), directing the association’s advocacy shop. He held the role of vice president of congressional affairs at the trade group from 1983 to 1991. His hire is ARA’s most significant investment to date in policy and government affairs and signals the organization’s intent to be a national voice on real estate policy.

ARA said Blount brings deep knowledge of real estate legislative priorities, including housing supply and affordability, tax policy, homeownership costs and consumer protection, along with relationships across Congress and federal agencies.

“When John Blount is on your side, you have the best advocate in the business,” Haber said in the release. “John didn’t just work in real estate advocacy, he defined it.”

“I’ve spent my career fighting for real estate professionals, and ARA is building something the industry hasn’t seen before, an organization agents actually want to join,” Blount said.

ARA’s growth and advocacy agenda

ARA launched in 2024 and has grown from roughly 30,000 members to a projected 100,000 or more by the end of 2026, according to the announcement. The group said growth has been fueled by partnerships with brands including REMAX and Compass International Holdings.

The association has already engaged in state and local advocacy, including partnering with Missouri Realtors to oppose ballot measures that would increase the cost of homeownership, the release said. ARA is also organizing a rally and press conference on the steps of New York City Hall next week to protest the city’s rollout of a pied-à-terre tax.

Blount’s mandate will be to formalize and scale ARA’s advocacy work by launching a federal government-affairs program, deepening engagement with policymakers and positioning ARA as a “responsive partner navigating a period of historic change in the industry,” the group said.

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